Reviews (page 5 of 9)
absoluter synth klassiker!
One can tell it's an influential synth album because of how it just... flows. i liked it but def something you have to listen to rather then you want to listen to.
Listening to this makes me imagine the context in which it was created, the brand new sound of synth pop, so fresh and unique. With the defining sound that prevailed over the next decade and more. Genius, however, I will say that because it's a pioneering album, there were some blemishes, but it certainly has quality.
Well, this record was not for me. I appreciate what it did for synth pop, but there’s only really one or two redeeming songs on here. “Cars” at least has a decent melody.
So I got this right after Bowie's "Low". Coincidence? There was definitely influence from "Low" here. Too bad none of the talent came over with it. This sounds like an AI tried to copy Bowie. There's no emotion here at all. Unless vaguely unsettling is an emotion. Cars saves this from getting a 1. It's actually a decent track.
The album really is Cars with some ok other songs. Cars is a 5 star track and the rest are 3. It is decent enough album with some decent tracks, but I am not going to be rushing off to listen to it again. 3.5 stars
Minimal synth apparently means minimally exciting after a while. I think I've really grown to hate the sound of a synth strings pad.
Cars was a minor hit when I was in high school but I had never heard the album. It’s very good, to a point. The first half was fantastic electronic pop but two things happened. First, the songs all began to sound like Cars and secondly, it was a bit too long, excessively long. Cut it by a third and it’s a five star album.
Based on what little I know about these guys other than “Cars”, they sound exactly how I thought they would sound. The keyboards rely heavily on that same formula they used in “Cars”. What came first? “Cars” or the keyboard notes???? Hmmmm It’s really amazing how roughly the same keyboard formula can be played throughout an entire album and yet it doesn’t really make the songs sound stale. Like there’s something different enough about one song than the next. My only knock against this album is I grew tired of the same thing song in and song out. The keyboards. Too much keyboard or synth. You know what I’m getting at…. Choice cut: Complex
Another charter member of the one hit wonders Club. Even in its era this kind of music was just okay. Now 40+ years removed it has not aged well at all. How did we go from the Beatles to this shit in a decade?
Some great tunes but after a while it gets a little samey.
Synthy goodness. Doesn't age terribly well but was foundational. 3/5
It's synths. It's quite an ominous singer. It's songs about technology. It's good stuff. I was fairly ready to hate this, because I group him, unfairly, with the sort of new romantic dross that I'd cross the M6 to avoid, but this was really very good indeed. Cars could easily have been my pick of the pops, but I think Metal hit even harder on this listen.
On the fence about this one - essentially it was just variations on Cars which in fairness is a massive song. I actually really started to enjoy it more once the instrumentals hit, but apparently they’re on the deluxe edition so not counting that. Would have been a 4 with them. Solid 3
This was really dull, didn’t really have anything going on
A bit boring to be honest. Too much synth.
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.
I'm not sure if I like it or love it, but I think I land on four stars here.
Already own this so hard to rate. Err on the side of Gary Numan is awesome and ahead of his time.
I had no idea this is where Basement Jaxx got their sample from. Love it. Not an album I'll probably play again, but I absolutely see the importance of this release foretelling what was to come in the world of electronic/industrial/dance music.
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.
You’re alright, robot man.
Cars was good because of the familiarity. I didn’t care so much for the rest of it but it made for alright background music while cleaning.
Typical synth overload … the one song in his own voice was best imho
Some new wave. First intro to it pretty neat would rate 3.9
This was better than i remembered. My memory had it as a pioneering 80's synth album and thats true, but id forgotten the breadth and depth of the instrumentation and the quality of the pop music. Great hooks, great production and the synths are a welcome addition rather than a one trick pony.
ugh
impressive stuff, but not as memorable as works like replica's. Gary Numans feel for the synthesizer and making electronic music that has a soul is unmatched though, which you can see in the highlights of this record. Favorite track: Cars. Overall score: 7.5/10
Unashamedly love this album, even if it’s a little same-same and Asylum could be skipped.
Excellent album, can hear quite a few songs that have sampled this album. Cars is iconic and Random is great too
Straddles the line between being poppy and avant-garde really well. It's a regular new wave album at heart, but the wacky noises used for instrumentation throughout keep it from being stale and boring. Cars is an all time classic and I found myself enjoying a lot of the tracks here. Maybe not quite the greatest album ever made but it's a fun listen nonetheless.
Synth player is getting a workout!
Pretty decent album with at least 3-4 hits
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.
It's fun to listen to these albums and discover songs that were sampled by songs I know well. M.E. and Cars are great.
Day473 - he’s so weird and cool i wish he was my grandpa
Gary Numan is an icon. You can't say synth pop without saying Gary Numan. I myself am partial to bit of synth pop, and so I enjoyed listening to this. There's several bangers on this, but it's all a bit too much of the same to get a perfect score. Will I listen to this album again in its entirety? Probably not. Will I listen to specific tracks for the next 50 odd years? 100%
Artiste inconnu. En fait non, j'ai reconnu 'Cars'. J'aime beaucoup le son, qui me rappelle OMD, Ultravox et Visage, tous plus connus à peu près à la même époque. En regardant la page wikipedia, effectivement un des musiciens va rejoindre Ultravox, et un autre composer avec Visage le hit 'Fade To Gray'. Le groupe de GN est un peu le précurseur d'autres groupes qui ont eu plus de succès ... mais qui eux ne sont pas dans la liste (Ultravox, Visage). Excellente découverte en tous cas, qui rejoindra probablement ma collection. =>4/5
Not only is he a pop star, right, he's got a pilot's licence. Imagine that! Gorgeous synth tones, lots of catchy riffs and hooks, and a robotic but charismatic vocal style that fits with the drum machine rhythms. If I was a glammed up business guy I'd also be suspiciously intrigued by the glowing triangle on my desk.
Very good, iconic sound
A classic for sure
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!
groundbreaking. brilliant.
Definitely know him for Cars, but the whole album is just as good.
Synth pop is hard to review in retrospect. We can only imagine the weird alien space voices the artist imagined, but they must ridiculous to a modern listener. So unless new have personal nostalgia for the genre (I’m a smidge too young for that) it’s very hard to judge the merits of such work. Thankfully there are some really great songs here, regardless of moog synths and robotic vocals. Song like Tracks and Conversation are just cool and interesting without being fully immersed in Numan’s futuristic fantasies. Four stars for me.
It definitely belongs on the list thanks to its very distinct electronic sound and vocals, a lot of which I like - but it’s still a chore to listen to.
If you like experimental early synth sounds put to catchy pop tunes, you’ll probably derive some pleasure from this album. And don’t get me wrong, I love experimental synth pop, but after a whole, this album gets a bit too repetitive for its own good, even if there are some genius moments throughout.
The principle of the matter, and the pleasure throughout, is how Numan takes cold synthesizers to school, teaching electronic machines to speak directly to matters of the human soul.
Not bad, just not for me.
kende op zich enkel 'cars'... rest is beetje veel van hetzelfde...
uugh hated it. Couldn't get past track 2
It had some okay songs on, but overall I found it quite dull
Cars bangs, synth pop origins is cool to listen to
Slow British synth pop. Like the music. Not a fan of the vocal.
5/10. I think there are a couple of iconic songs on this record which are indeed very fun and the style is quite unique, but the thing that mainly beat me down with this as a whole album is that it feels SOO samey. The rhythm, the melodies and even the timbre felt like it could've been all one song instead of seventeen (17!). I definitely think there's some cool stuff going on and I can see how it really influenced some of the stuff I love today but as a whole album it felt like a fairly mid experience for the above reasons.
8/10.
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
I went into this a little down on it. After a song or 2 I was just thinking I'd rather be listening to kraftwork but it picks up. Still has some lulls of instrumental nothing imo but it's decent. Also cars is not a song I've thought of in a long time but what a song. Good little synthy popy dohicky
I only listened to a few of these songs and it ain't for me. Sorryyyy.
Feels like a synthesizer on a cocaine bender.
Very synthy with some nice bass lines. Lyrics and vocals are very 70s. Feel some similarities to Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, but I don’t feel the same heart (soul?) in these.
I love this moment in synth pop. Alas, it was so short. The rich, lush analogue synth sounds were soon trampled by the tin can FM sounds of Yamaha and Roland and the performances were turned over to robots through the use of sequencers. But for a brief moment, it was gorgeous. This album captures that moment perfectly.
oooweeeeOOOOO synth-y goodness. Eyeliner. Warily regarding a glowing pyramid. Caaaaaars.
Banging album. He has such fantastic style and a well-defined character; just look at that awesome cover art! I particularly liked M.E.; there are some weird combination of real strings and synths on here, but in M.E. it really lands in such a great way. Will definitely listen to this some more.
Ahead of its time
4.35
I was pleasantly surprised with Gary Numan's The Pleasure Principle. Even today, this album has a very unique sound. Using both electronics and synthesizers, Numan created a new wave sound that I've never heard before. I definitely noticed aspects that inspired musicians like the Cars and Prince, even if Prince didn't directly dabble in new wave. When the songs are instrumentals, that's when Numan hits his groove--each are distinct and are reflective of the song title. The whole album flows so well, and it must be because of Numan's unique sound and his love of synthesizers.
I found "The Pleasure Principle" to be an intriguing example of synth-pop and new wave. Gary Numan clearly has a very unique approach to those genres on this album, not quite like anything else. Turns out his famous song "Cars" is pretty much a signature for his sound, as the rest of this album has a sound that can be related to "Cars". In attempting to bring a sound to music that I can only really describe as "cold scientific electronic sounds", he taps into a rather industrial sound which no doubt inspired the actual industrial genre. This didn't blow me away, but I did enjoy it for something a little bit different.
Game changing
Sehr elektronisch, ein bisschen eintönig
This seems ahead of its time and innovative for 1979. I liked parts of it, but over time the textures wore on me and vocal affectation of an androgynous cyborg grew irksome. I liked the song that sounded like “Cars” better than “Cars”.
Booooorrrrring
Yeah quirky like it. If Led Zeppelin II was a 60s album that defined the 70s, this is a 70s album that defined the 80s
I can see where this influenced a lot of other subsequent synth groups. Very raw sounding though. The synth is pretty one dimensional, but I'm guessing that's more a symptom of the limitations of the technology at the time. The drums and backing beat is right on though. In the end, not really my thing though. The vocals really grate on me. Side note: I checked out some of their recent stuff, and it's really interesting.
Enjoyed it and I find Gary's obsession with machines/computers pretty endearing. Suffers a little from the simplicity of the song and vocal delivery. Will happily revisit.
This can be best described as: Cars! and nine other songs that kinda sound like Cars. And that’s not a bad thing. This sort of 70’s/80’s futurism is fascinating as it both firmly plants it in time, yet also still sounds far off and alien. Favorites were Metal, Tracks, and Cars.
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...
The tracks can feel just a little bit Samey, but overall it's still some damn fine synthpop. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 4. I’m just really impressed at where this is for 1979. It is electronica, but it’s electronica done in a way that feels like a direct throughline to the more club-oriented & dance-y rock stuff that Daft Punk and others would really define as their own. Even past that though, it’s just remarkable synth work, done in a way that clearly affected the rest of the 80s, and opened up a whole new Moog-driven world that everyone would take advantage of, especially hip-hop when the time came for it – every track here feels like it’s a few notes away from being “Push It”. As far as the science fiction thematics, I think it works as an obvious framing device for this soundscape. Given the contexts of the time (i.e., Star Wars, Star Trek, Close Encounters, etc), it’s a bit stereotypical, but it’s the easiest way to connect to an audience. There’s some solid lyrical work here, but it never goes into anything deeper than vaguely thought-provoking broad strokes, and I do think that’s a bit of a missed opportunity. Lots of world-building, but never an actual real story, save for “Metal”, which I think really worked. Musically… yeah, this is definitely outclassed by a lot of its peers, and there’s significant “first minute is the whole song” moments throughout this whole thing. Lots of repetitive melodies, and eventually, this synth work does lose a bit of its luster. It hit me by around Track 6 or 7, and then REALLY hit by Track 8 – you can only get away with long synth notes moving up and down while some cool percussion goes on for so long. It is definitely a long experience, even at 41 minutes, but these are all individually solid / good / great tracks, so I’ve got no real complaints, save for “Conversation” being endlessly long at 7 minutes. With all of that said, I just admire this too much for it to drop any lower than a 3.5 for me, and I feel good about giving it a 4. Yes, it’s repetitive, but I haven’t heard anything from the late 70s using synthesizers this effectively, at least in this vaguely synthpop-esque / trance-y style. One could point to Kraftwerk, and that’s fair enough, but I think Kraftwerk used their synths to create a more calming soundscape reminiscent of a nice happy train ride or drive on a highway, not a mildly existential robot society seemingly devoid of humanity, save for a handful of people. I think it’s a good album, and it really clicked with a lot of my sensibilities. Hence, the 4.
Simpatico, convincente.
not my cup of tea
This was a bit of a weird album, so I assume people would have to be on drugs to fully enjoy it, or just have it in the background, although it's not really just a simple listen, but it's a bit intense. Everything sounded very repetitive, really nothing exciting, but I guess people were experimenting with making that kind of music at the time, so I understand why it sounds pretty meh nowadays.
This is so much better played loud, I reckon, to properly let those thick slabs of sound wash over you - it's one of those that's more about atmosphere than songs. It does get a bit samey and repetitive, but by way of trade-off you get a very cohesive, unmistakably distinct body of work to immerse yourself in. If this was released today perhaps I'd be a little less effusive but in my mind Gary Numan, along with fellow androids Kraftwerk, feels like an important and heavily influential touchpoint in the history of uncompromisingly synth-heavy music.
very cool album and so incredibly influential of everything that came after it, but it sort of blended together for me a tad. even still, undeniably brilliant, and i love the production style it introduced
Interesting early electronic record. Who can deny Cars anyway?
This album new waves very hard.
While more interesting than Hot Chip, it was not as much fun. Sadly, other than “Cars” it lacked memorable hooks. One-handed keyboarding does not impress.
This sure is a 1979 synthesizer album by Gary Numan. It's just as exciting as you'd think it would be by someone named Gary Numan.
Just a straight hour of new wave synth. Slightly repetitive at points but it was a fun listen. Highlights: Complex Random
This kind of dark synthpop is like crack to me. Ahead of its time.
[4.5]
I didn’t think I liked dark synth music. It turns out I don’t like people trying to copy Gary numan
fun
8/10
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
"Cars" is a great tune, but the rest is a bit middling and the overall style isn't my favorite. 3/5
Cars and M.E. carry the entire album
Fun to listen to after all these years. But probably the last time. 2.95
Synth synth synth synth synth synth synth synth synthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Bwubwubwubwubwubwubwubwubwubwub There's some enjoyable moments within the sameness here, and Cars is a banger, but overall it's hard to distinguish between many of its tracks and Numan's vocal performance doesn't stand out enough to help the cause.
I prefer the previous album, "Replicas", when it was still Tubeway Army, but this album is good and contains the massive hit "Cars".
Great new wave record. This one brings back some memories. Fun listen.
One of my favorite new wave albums. It’s just so dancey and fun. My son is obsessed with Cars too (for obvious reasons).
An interesting sound for a couple of songs. But hard to make it through the whole album in that vein.
interesting
funciona, tiene cositas de bowie, pero se hacemuy largo
"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."
Favorite Track: Cars
I prejudged this guy. I took one look at the album cover and thought he was gonna be a crooner (guess I missed the eyeshadow). At first, I was happy to be wrong. How interesting! But… every song is exactly the same. So this album is at least twice as long as it needs to be.
I usually prefer my synth music to be a bit more on the dancier side, so this didn't quite land there. But still, I must admit that this is quite good. There are a handful of good songs, like 'Complex', the really beefy 'M.E' with its sick overdriven main lead, and 'Cars'. Though the sound is a bit dated by now, it still feels quite fresh for being from '79. A weird thing with this album is that almost all songs sound the same, and I can't really put my finger on why. Maybe its similar chords, or he's overusing the violin-like sound, not sure. Another thing that just struck me is that this sounds a bit like something that could be a predecessor to MGMT. Their voices are not too far away, and M.E sounds quite similar to MGMT's 'Little Dark Age' somehow. Anyways, a bit torn between a strong 3 and a weak 4. Not sure I really want to hear again enough to warrant a 4 though, so settling on 3.
Enjoyed this! One of my first memories of Spotify back in 2008 was using it to listening to "Are friends Electric" by Gary Numan. This brought back those memories. I think this album manages to fell modern, retro and cool all at the same time. It really has a unique sound . And no guitars! Cars is a great song and M.E really stood out too, maybe in part that i recognized the sample that Basement jaxx took. Fun album, not too many bangers but enough to keep me interested throughout, and a good album to listen to while working. 4 Stars!
Just about as influential as they come, more or less perfecting a sound that would define a decade. Very fun album, will be checking out his discog more closely! My standout for this is “M.E.”
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 ⭐⭐⭐
One of the first albums I bought
Paar goede nummers maar de rest is wel kut zeg
Good enough original Electropop album.
It is pleasant. I added “cars”
fucking awesome!
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)
Turns out that I'm a fan of the guitar. Not having one on a synth-rock album for an hour is an interesting decision.
Enjoyed this album much more than anticipated
Oh that song! Started off skeptical that it'd be more New Wave synth junk, but it grew on me. Ironically with the major hit being Cars, a lot of the sound is similar to the band The Cars which I enjoyed.
6-
not my thang
This is interesting but I'm not sure I'd call it good. I was only really familiar with the song "Cars" and I like it, but half the time when another song started I though "Oh nice, Cars!" and it turned out to be a different song. Unique but repetitive. 3.5 stars
Some great finds in this - some fantastic fretless bass, a proper drummer and clearly influential in new wave/synth. Still not quite consistent, not quite a whole package of songs. But definitely worth listening to and definitely a moment in time in music.
The repetitiveness of this album was what killed it for me, there’s some variety but not much. The tones and sounds used throughout didn’t grasp me and thought the vocals weren’t great either. Couldn’t get into it and unfortunately wasn’t for me despite listening through the entire thing.
Music, if all humanity was stripped away from the music. But without Gary, we'd never have the likes of Thomas Dolby, so....
Nicht schlimm, aber super langweilig
Very cool album, I liked it
Admit it. A lot of the songs on this album sound just like “cars”
Cars and M.E are ok. The rest is just all the same
This kind of music is normally not my jam, but I have to admit I kind of liked it. Minimalistic synth based songs with thin, punk-ish vocals. A whole album is too much, though. It is rather monotonous. Best songs: M.E. and Cars
Poppy new wave from '79. Cars.
I enjoyed this album on the whole. It's a shame all the songs sounded the same though On a side note, I never realised Basement Jaxx used a sample of a Gary Numan song! 3 ⭐️
Very very nice
While I can find no direct connection, this album comes off as Modest Mouse writing the soundtrack for an eighties movie. Helps popularize the minimal style of new wave and sets the scene for a bevy of odd eighties music. A bold choice to remove guitar entirely, but showcases the prevalence and domination of the synthesizer as it was about to enter a peak
All damn day.
Classic new wave. I highly recommend seeing him live. He puts on a fantastic show.
I loved this album. Great sound. Made me feel good.
Too much of the same synth sounds made it a bit boring for me.
This is an interesting one. I am not too familiar with 80’s synth but this person seems to be way ahead of their time. There were a couple songs that I really could be convinced that it was Of Montreal
Did not know this artist beyond the song Cars. Was pleasantly surprised by this album and how likely of an influence it had on some of the electro dance rock of the early 00s (I see you LCD Soundsystem). Some of the songs do sound a bit similar, but I enjoyed the technology themed lyrics and futuristic vibe. Favorite songs: Films, Metal
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
The Displeasure Principle: The more you listen to “The Pleasure Priniciple”, the more tiresome the album becomes.
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.
This was a fun one. I liked the mix of electronic music and acoustic players, made it sound much more "goal of the future" sounds.
Synth pop isn’t really my jam. Cars is ok and a couple others were alright. Not for me really though. 2.5 for me but Ill round up.
This was terrible 😭😭
Sounds like cocaine?
This is...fine? I don't abhor it but I'd probably not listen to this willingly again.
Well produced but it just seem quite repetitive and electronica just isn’t my thing.
Wouldn't have imagined rating a synth-pop record higher than a 2, but here we are. This was my background music while reading Bruce Wasserstein's "Big Deal," a fiery recollection of all the big-swinging dick hostile takeover battles of the 80's and early 90's... pretty much the perfect soundtrack.
I loved this. Electronic mastery.
Didn't know what to expect. Could have been a lot worse.
The robot within is satisfied.
Synth pop muy top para la época. Le he tenido que dar dos vueltas pero me lo he pasado bien oyéndolo, recomendado para los panitas que le gusten cosas del estilo. Canción destacada: Cars
Hugely influential. Just listen to Basement Jaxx “where’s your head at” as a prime example. They used “M.E.” as the soundtrack to create a banger dance hit.
I did not expect to enjoy an entire album of sci-fi sounding music as much as I enjoyed this. Cars is the catchiest tune, but also arguably the least interesting. The impact this album had on new wave, electronic music, and later eras of rock is constantly evident.
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.
Gary Numan, Patron Saint of Aspergers. I am longtime fan of this record, and spent a pleasant afternoon listening through to the record three times on the trot, and also watching the Android in La La Land documentary about his move to LA and career resurgence in around 2012. That then led down a rabbit hole of videos or interviews and stuff, particularly for the last decade or two (personal fave; the Amoeba Records What's In My Bag? video). I am absolutely charmed by Mr Numan, his wife and daughters. I watch a lot of docos about musicians, and it is ironic that I find Gary Numan to be one of the most human subjects that I have seen. he comes across as a shy, humble, funny, loving (and lovable) and emotionally open man. This is ironic given the cold, robotic image he cultivated in his early career. It is so important to have public examples that neurodivergent people ("neuro-sparkly" as my son would say) can be all of those things, despite the social challenges. Good on you, Mr Numan, I wish you all the best in life. On the subject of this record, it is a robust and highly listenable album, even 45 years later. I think that speaks to the profound and enduring influence it has had; acknowledged and covered by numerous bands (including by Nine Inch Nails and the Foo Fighters) and widely sampled (most prominently by Daft Punk), this album (and Replicas, released less than a year earlier) were massive hits, opening the door for the use of electronics in pop songs in a way that really heralded a bazillion bands in the 80s. Cars, Metal and M.E. particularly stand up as incredibly strong songs. The decision to use a human rhythm section ensures that the band still rocks, even without guitars. I was going to give this 4, but spending some time with the album today, I am rounding up to five for a being massively influential and a really good listen and for Gary Numan being a stand-up human being.
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.
Це доволі цікавий #synthpop / #newwave альбом, що є одним із найбільш визначальним в жанрі. Це був перший альбом у сольній кар'єрі Gary Numan після покидання Tubeway Army - дуже схожого за концепцією нью-вейв гурту з більшим впливом #postpunk та "живих" інструментів. І забігаючи наперед, альбом їх Replicas (1979), як на мене, куди більш багатогранний ніж The Pleasure Principle. Але, втім, хочется віддати Гері належне за бажання експерементувати і видати щось, по-справжньому, особливе. Чи вийшло у нього? На мою думку - не дуже, але назвати цей альбом "поганим" я також ніяк не можу, адже чіпляючі моменти в ньому є та їх, насправді, не мало (одна Cars чого тільки варта). Але попри це, альбом все ще дуже довгий. І його монотоність - зовсім не йде йому на користь. Безумовно, ця робота мала свій вплив, на #synthpop та вын був чималий. Але якщо подивитись на інший, напевно, найвпливовіший альбом, що вийшов роком раніше, мова, звісно, про Die Mensch-Maschine від Kraftwerk, той він був куди більш концептуальним, простим та лаконічним, ніж дебютник Ньюмана. Саме тому його пам'ятають, та постійно згадують, а про The Pleasure Principle чути значно меньше. Проте за звуком, настроєм та загальною атмосферою - альбоми абсолютно різні і якщо ви не чули The Pleasure Principle, то для "культурного збагачення" - це, однозначно, варто зробити
Very cool. Distinct sound and voice. Interesting lyrics. Did a song repeat a riff somewhere in there. Was reminded that he also did down in the park - which the foo fighters of everybody once covered. When they were cool.
Every single song sounded the same.
da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da. da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da. da-dum da-dum, da-dum da-dum. da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da. da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da.
kachow! i enjoyed this album but a better name for it would've been Cars and Other Assorted Vehicles (since they all sound like Cars anyway, get it? pretty funny stuff) anyway this album was pretty cool. lotta neat synth sounds that make me wanna win the piston cup. that's all i got. favorites: metal, films, m.e., conversation, CARS!!!!!!!!!
In a nutshell: Kraftwerk's #1 fan. One music critic described Gary Numan as "part androgynous Bowie meets Kraftwerk robot". Appropriate. There are variations in some arrangements, such as strings on Complex. For the most part, there is limited range to the analogue synth and Moogs. It sounds monotonous when the same notes are recycled through the album. IMHO, it's good, but it's more of 1001 Songs submission (for Cars or Are "Friends" Electric from Numan's previous project Tubeway Army) than a 1001 Albums entry. Overall: 4/10
Very nice.
I actually enjoyed that more than I thought I would. I probably won't ever listen to it again, but glad I did at least once.
this really skirted the do i like this or do i not like this? could i write poetry to this? n
Numan's brand of blips and bloops is less robotic and disconnected than earlier Electronic artists like Kraftwerk. He does need to try some of the other buttons on his synthesizer, though. The "demo mode on a Casiotone" sound is pervasive throughout the whole album. The commercial appeal of "Cars" helped push digital music into the 1980's and cemented the synthesizer's place in Pop music. Minus a half-star for that time when Numan's tour bus killed a pedestrian in downtown Cleveland. He gets it back, though, because a sample from his song "M.E." provided the backbone for Basement Jaxx's dance club hit, "Where's Your Head At."
3.5
Gotta love it for how unique it is. It does get a little tiresome after a while - the coldness of it all. The live tracks at the end of it, though I don't think they're part of the original release, show that a little bit of live instrumentation makes the songs feel more alive.
Adventurous but feels like too much...there's a niche here but it's not my thing.
I have this bias against new wave for some reason. At worst it's just so corny and feels like a cheap fad. But I do appreciate that Gary Numan seems to be more exploring moods than trying to make a hit record. I like the indie weirdo side. It think having Observer and Cars on the album is pretty funny. Like he just liked that riff enough to say "fuck it" and keep them both. It does kinda feel like the best thing that come from this is creating the raw material for the Basement Jaxx sample. WHERE'S YOUR HEAD ATATATATAT!?!?!?
The Gold Standard of Synth Pop.
I appreciate the significance of Gary Newman - you can tell how much influence this album had on 80s music and I like how much he was clearly influenced by Kraftwerk. As an album I thought it was musically enjoyable, a bit pleasant and inoffensive side, with some real standout tracks. Not my fav but I'd happily listen again
Not an everyday listen but can see how influential this album is
Made me want to listen to the talking heads
Good singles but not as good as Kraftwerk.
"wheeeeere's your head aaaaaatt at at at" - Gary Anthony James Webb
While back I got it in my head that I should give Gary Numan a shot, and I listened to this album in full. Liked it, then forgot to ever go back. Don’t remember why. Anyway, it’s real good. Synth based pop/rock is a lot cooler when it sounds evil instead of revelrous.
This is just way too 80s experimental for my tastes.
I prefer Kraftwerk. I just can't get into New Wave
Not good.
Liked this way better than I thought I would.
Do I hate new wave? Maybe I hate new wave.
Meh. It all sounds so much like Cars.
It was a pioneering album, that helped user in the electro-pop revolution of the early eights. However, a critical listen showed its Kraftwerk inspiration **, and just how safe some of the album was. Still, it introduced the masses to the possibilities of synths, so it deserves some credit. ** Compare Airlane with Kommettenmeoldie...it's informative.
Cars works, everything else is like he's trying to figure out the right sound for Cars.
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.
Another record on this list that my parents listened to when I was growing up. It's fun to start learning about the artists that wrote the songs of my childhood. Cars was such a classic in our house. I love the commitment to straight synth on this record. It seems like this record was probably a big inspiration for a lot of the synth pop/new wave bands of the 80s and I appreciate that since that music really shaped my overall musical taste.
I was not expecting to enjoy this, but I really liked it. It really reminds me a lot of indie rock that I listened to in my youth. Bands like Islands, The Unicorns, or Destroyer have a very similar style and sound. Especially with the vocals. I love that it's kind of this slightly dubbed yell / sing kind of thing. The synths were also really fun. I would almost compare this to Depeche Mode, but its not the blues and its not in a minor key. This is far more dancey and poppy, however, I wouldn't necessarily call it pop music. Its too weird and sad for that. So I guess the closest thing I could relate it to would be David Bowie. This feels like the natural progression for a Bowie fan. Its weird, sad and poppy. There's great instrumentals, choruses and vocal melodies. He plays with a lot of weird sounds and layers them into other things, which is really cool and fun to listen to. My only knock is that a lot of the songs start to bleed into each other and its hard to kind of tell the difference between songs in the middle of the record. A lot of them sounds very similar. I think this an album that he could have trimmed the fat on by 2 - 3 songs and keep it a tight 32 minutes.
interesting music from 1979 3/5
Det är ju min musikstil men när varenda låt låter som Cars, ja då kan det bara bli medelbetyg.
I learned that the Basement Jaxx famous song is a cover
3.1
Nope. Not for me. 1
Pretty lame Milhouse
I’m sure when it was released it was groundbreaking, now it’s just boring
Sweetly wailing synth And a voice of whined practice Offering pop tunes
Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle For a genre that's called "new wave", it kinda does nail that on the spot, although it sounds very technical a lot of the times. Gary Numan presents this album with a lot of electronics and rarely any instruments that sound human at all. While it was revolutionary back then when it was released (1979) and also appreciate the ideas that Gary Numan was trying to put on the table, it sort of ends up going from one ear to the other, as it stales at times over the course of just 10 songs. I wish I could've enjoyed this because the concept of it sounds cool enough, but the music alone doesn't justify it, mostly songs made with an 80's feel, but overall, this is decent. 1.- Airplane = 5/10 2.- Metal = 7/10 3.- Complex = 6/10 4.- Films = 7/10 5.- M.E. = 8/10 6.- Tracks = 7/10 7.- Observer = 5/10 8.- Conversation = 5/10 9.- Cars = 8/10 10.- Engineers = 7/10 FINAL SCORE: 6.5/10
4.1 Should have started giving decimalosed scores ages ago. Ah well, only 500 albums left. Really solid outing, I was familiar with a few of the tracks already but this really must have been groundbreaking at the time. Sounds quite distinct from the kraftwerk-esque synth pop happening elsewhere. Such dark, inhumane tones throughout. Can see why Trent Reznor idolised this man.
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.
3.5
This album along with Tubeway Army before it and Telekon after bring me so much joy. Sounds fresh to this day.
One point off for being way to synth for my ears.
Probably the best Synthpop album I’ve ever heard. Ez 4.5
Pretty cheeks if you ask me
I don’t like this stuff
Less interesting than influential
The longing embrace of techno pop is never more present than here.
9/10 I'm a sucker for synth, I make no apologize for my illness. Pity me not 12-12-2024
I know it’s foundational but I would say at a bird’s eye view it’s texturally repetitive in a way that isn’t too interesting to me. If it was an EP, that would be perfect. Favorite track is Metal and M.E.
IMO, all the songs sound way to similar. That early synth sound. It's okay, but I won't come back to this again.
I listened through this one multiple times, it worked well as a sort of ambiance for me. I very much get this desolate tech dystopia vibe from it Standouts Metal Me, I Disconnect From You 4/5
2.5
Good but I like "Are my friends electric?" better
Important cutting edge new wave album. My only complaint is that “Cars” goes so much harder than nearly everything else on the disc.
3.5
Some songs I really enjoyed. Other ones were okay to have in the background
I can’t decide on this one. I did and didn’t like it. The futuristic feel was interesting but overall got old after several tacks. I don’t think I’d ever go back and listen to it which is why I am giving it a 3.
Once you've heard one you've heard them all
Nicht schlimm, aber super langweilig
autism WIN!!!!!!!!
airlane- 5 metal-5 complex- 5 films- 5 m.e.- 4 tracks- 4 observer- 4
Really cool bit of early synth pop here. I love how off kilter and frankly rough the tones are here. It’s like the garage rock of the genre, far less polished than what the later 80s would have.
This album just takes everything that's amazing about Kraftwerk's music, and just makes it really annoying. You can really tell that synths were this really new thing, and that electronic music was in its infancy just by how overused synths are in this album. It's all good and well for a song or two, but they all just sound exactly the same.
Do you like synth? This is for you! I can appreciate how experimental and out there this album is, and it reminds me od other songs I like (Random for example giving me shades of One of These Days by Pink Floyd). But overall this misses the mark with me, the only song I recognize is Cars, and even then it was a journey to get there. The latter of the albun doesnt improve much for me either.
Every song sounds like a piece of the song “Cars” until it all clicks into place with said song. Except for the “Where’s your head at” sample. That song’s different. Overall it’s a pretty pleasurable plisten
Loved it! Will be a great album to just throw on. Before this I only knew Cars (obviously) and M.E. and I’m glad I finally listened to the whole thing. Maybe a little dated/corny but he’s doing some great stuff here.
Cars and it's the same but there's like 15 versions of it so it's not.
Revolutionair album. Is het volledig mijn ding? Neen, maar dit is echt wel een tijdloos album. Voor mate van tijdloosheid zou ik dus een 4 of een 5 geven, maar ik geef sterren op basis van mijn smaak, dus wordt het maar een 3.1.
Not sure how people can listen to this genre for pleasure. Unless you're a Tesla robot. Couple of songs (the most popular) were a good listen but could have left the rest.
the birth of synth pop deserves at least a 3. otherwise I dont really care for it. super inspirational you can tell tho
80s synth, not for me but not bad
Fantastic album. Aged really well and the mixing is great. Some of the sounds and synths you hear sound so crispy and smooth. Phenomenal
I’m so glad I don’t like this type of music
We liked this, cars is a really good song and quite a lot of the other songs are good too. Quite Bowie like in many ways. Although the later parts of the album were quite strange.
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.
2.7. Album serves purpose well as a time capsule, but I’d really only voluntarily listen to ~2 songs with regularity.
Nice album.
Did not like it... Should be there a thumb down, I do not want to give a single star to this album - it doesn´t worth it
Some great tracks on this album, most notably Cars 4/5
Gary Numan is definitely a pioneer in electronic music, helping bridge the gap between post-punk and the early sounds of industrial. This album takes a more minimalist approach, letting the synths and drum machines take full control to enhance that cold, futuristic, robotic theme.
This Album inspired me to take a break from this generator for a week.
Weird Gary
The song Cars will always remind me of Test Drive 6. Synth heavy album.
Cool
vibes
All the synth, please. Seriously, a bit overwhelming at times. Also, just can't get on with his voice. Becomes a little much by the end. Most songs are ok. A few are good.
time and time again, our most forward-thinking musicians are gender non-conforming autistic people
not for me
3.5
mjoah, nicht so meins
Nichts besonderes in meinen Augen. Viel gleiche Sounds mit wenig Lyrics. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine
The more I listen to the majority of these albums, the more I realize I do not have an open mind at all... This album was boring as fuck
I was previously only familiar with "Cars" from this album. While Cars is certainly the standout track, I enjoyed the entire album. The album is pleasantly consistent in sound and tone. I would listen to this again for sure.
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.
Narrowly avoiding the 80s, this sounds almost as fresh today as it did when it first came out. I loved the fact that the one track I knew (Cars) didn't sound at all out of place when listening to the entire album. The bonus tracks on Spotify didn't do much for me, but I'm only judging the original 10 tracks, which deserve a definite 4 stars.
El sonido me ha gustado mucho: limpio, electrónico. Cars es un bombazo y el resto no es tan potente, pero merece la pena.
Music for robots
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.
I listened to the entire album—it's not the worst thing I've ever heard, but definitely way too repetitive for me. It's a shame 'cause I'm usually really into synths. 2.5/5 stars
I kind of loved this - or at least the opening track drew me in quick, then the album lost me a little. Some of the tracks seem a bit “filler”. I know and love the track “Cars” obviously but would never have thought of investigating Gary Numan further without 1001 prompting me to. And what I’ve found is that the danceable ones are very cool. The track “M.E.” Was VERY familiar to me as it was clearly sampled by Basement Jaxx. I’m not sure what to do with this new awareness of Gary Numan. I guess I might listen to more of his stuff. I feel like there’s some gold to be dug out here. I’d probably liked to hear his stuff mixed with more modern dance music tracks. Yeah, cool!
eh
How the fuck did Gary numan get a time machine and travel into two different decades to ripoff mgmt and basement jax to record that mashup for the song M.E.?.... Mint album.
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.
(Ignoring the bonus tracks, which detract a little from the album) Thought this would feel very much of its time, and of course it does, but it still sounds fantastic today. Great album.
Absolutely.
Was vibing a bit. Thought this was for sure like late 80’s, ahead of his time.
Fun sound but a lot of it blended together for me.
Did you know Gary Numan is just one guy?
Liked it until I didn’t
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.
This is a great cover and an album that is very tight. M.E was my favourite song from it and I weirdly loved how many songs were one word. Good one for the list.
So much New Wave! Decent album cover. This is a pretty solid album. Haunting vibe overall. Obviously influential. Popped for M.E. hearing that sample Basement Jaxx used. Films and M.E favorite tracks. Observer sounds like he is just figuring out the song Cars Strong 4
80's music to the roof, I recently watched the movie fright night, and it felt like this album encapsulate the style of a 80's horror movie, full of jams, and groovy.
3.4
Surprisingly enjoyable. Like a half-speed Devo with more British influence. Got a little repetitive towards the end, but I liked it overall!
God I love Gary Numan. Autism music
Album was okay. Some fun stuff, but overall kind of repetitive. 2/5 Probably won’t listen again
Amazing
Early new wave synth pop, the only song I knew was Cars, which reminded me of a lot of the early mid 80s pop that was on the radio when I was a kid. Cool and original songwriting and performances.
It's a fun vibe, but a lot of these songs sound the same tbh... Prefer my New Wave to have a little more dancey or a little more post-punky vibes Faves: Cars
Bueno
Synth pop, apparently. Mostly instrumental, not super interesting
I thought this album was so incredibly annoying (the vocals, the repetitive synth paterns, and the percussion). Although a moderate album length, this dragged on for what felt like 3 hours. Cars is a classic song, but even that doesn't do it for me. This list has felt more like the 1001 new wave and UK punk albums list of all time instead of the 1001 albums you NEED to listen to.
Electro synth nu wave, no guitars and Cars, a bit repetitious at times
Groovy at times, strange at others.
I like this one. Very synthy and kind of feels like the forefront of electronic music. It’s only getting a 3 because it isn’t a 4 but is decently close.
Прикольно, но не особо мое
I find it hard to categorize this one. Maybe I shouldn't; but it's like a mix of Electronica and late 70s Pop. I found it surprisingly listenable. There you go. 3/5
AI Slop before AI Slop was cool. Cars is an okay song though...I remember it from my youff.
Yes, technically this is impressive. But it is also very much the sound of the 80s, so I guess it’s impressive that it came out in 79. Every song is just a less poppy version of Cars.
Fantastic. And so good to hear the original sample of Basement Jaxx’s track Where’s your head at?
This was as 80's as a rubiks cube wearing spandex and deely boppers. It wasn't bad, a bit monotonous, vocally he's very robotic but I get the impression that's intentional. I reckon 3 stars is about right.