Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Catchy album - a combination of punk/glam with a bit of a 60s proto-punk sound (which would make it a throwback?). Sounds like they'd be fun to see live. Reminds me a bit of early Midnight Oil (except clearly not taking themselves as seriously as the Oils). A decent amount of variety for a punk album. Favorite tracks: One Chord Wonders, Bored Teenagers, Gary Gilmore's Eyes (I typed Gary Glitter's Eyes, which could also be problematic), No Time to be 21, Safety in Numbers, On Wheels.
See Craig's review. Illuminating and inspiring.
After the weekend, I can't say I remember much from this except for Gary Gilmore's Eyes and One Chord Wonders but that's enough I'll come back for this.
This was cool from start to finish. Who the hell are the Adverts?
I think this album was one of the early UK punk albums. It's interesting the way T.V. Smith's vocals are so clear, if a little mannered - at a time when (at least according to my memory) many of their contemporaries produced a full-n onslaught. The album is full of good songs. 'One Chord Wonders' is great, though maybe comes across as a bit self-absorbed. the real standout song is 'Gary Gilmore's Eyes', though I think that wasn't on the original album release (it's on the expanded edition available via Qobuz). A really fun listen.
I'm quite surprised, very listenable, enjoyable punk rock in its glory time, still holds in 2024. Favourite song(s): "One Chord Wonders", "Bored Teenagers", "On the Roof", "Bombsite Boy". 4/5
Should be 3-1/2 stars. Need half stars here.
a pretty solid effort from a punk rock band that I had never heard of before this. not my favorite in terms of punk sound, but still fun enough.
More polished than I was expecting. It is a fun album with pretty decent lyrics. I get a Clash and Bowie vibe out of this, with a touch of Iron Maiden. They keep everything pretty interesting, with different vocal techniques, different tempos, guitars, and more. I think everything is highly enjoyable, shame they didn't get a chance to continue and produce more. Favorite Songs: One Chord Wonders, New Church, No Time to Be 21 Least Favorites:
Great album, I've never heard of the Adverts before. Sounds super fresh even in 2024, classic but novel at the same time. Thoroughly enjoyed
"Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts" is the debut studio album by English punk band the Adverts. The Adverts were one of the first punk bands to achieve chart success in UK. This particular album hit #38. The bandmembers included T.V. Smith (vocals), Gaye Advert (bass, vocals), Howard Pickup (guitar, vocals) and Laurie Driver (drums). This album also received critical acclaim. A screeching guitar with feedback opens "One Chord Wonders." It kicks in. Smith is screaming. Full-on punk. A fuzzy guitar carrying the melody. No one is at their concerts and they don't care. "On the Roof" has a creeping guitar. This sounds more like 60's garage and pyschedelic rock. He's loose on the roof waiting. Their UK hit single "Gary Gilmore was not on the original release but appeared on reissues. How can I not mention a song about a patient receiving the eyes from executed murderer Gary Gilmore. True story: several of his body parts were used for transplants including his corneas. And the song is great: catchy vocal and musical choruses. The third and final single "No Time to be 21" begins the second side. More driving rock with drums and bass. Gaye Advert gives a bass jam. I has to mention her. Ah, no hope at 21. A thumping bass and drums again star on "Safety in Numbers." Echoing vocals and more of a hard rock guitar. Hipsters and posers riding the new wave "wave." They end the album appropriately with a more punk song in "Great British Mistake." Their only political song of sorts that I could decipher. Maybe a more social though as Smith comments on people not changing when they should have. This is a great, early punk-era album. The music is punk at its core but there are songs with elements of hard rock and pyschedelia. For the most part, the song themes are teenage alienation and being on the fringe of society and popularity....very punk. Yeah, maybe the next time you reach for the Clash's first album or the Ramones give this a spin.
Killer. First time hearing this band, or any of these songs - lots of energy, lots of smashing drums and guitars.
4/5 I really liked this. Didn’t initially think I’d like this style of punk, but goes to show that you gotta give everything a chance.
I liked it!!
First listen to the full album. Some of it is dated but some still sounds good. R I p. Garry
Astonishingly good write up in the book that I wonder if I should not have read before listening as it hyped this up so much as a lost classic. It's a good solid punk album. I didn't recognise any of the songs. Gary Gilmore's Eyes is quite funny to think back about tabloid outrage then and the shite that goes barely reported on these days. I'd never heard of the titular executed murderer until I looked him up but he was clearly well known at the time.
Despite being British, and an album that I wasn't already familiar with on some level this was pretty good. Some of the songs kind of blended together towards the end, but this is pretty good; especially for an album from the 70s Felling a low 4/5
This one starts strong and keeps going with solid "British teenage rebel punk" energy. I like the vibe.
I'd heard Gary Gilmore's Eyes but not much more than that. I enjoyed it for what it was though I will not likely seek it out again.
Some well constructed tunes made this a fun listen.
Dope punk album! Just the right attitude, creative drive and songwriting sense
Jättebra! Träffade mig rätt
A seriously underrated punk album that probably should be in the same camp as London Calling or Never Mind the Bollocks. That said, how many more British punk albums are we expecting on this list?
Passionately riding punk rock’s seminal first wave, The Adverts make crossing the Red Sea look easy in a voracious voyage that still resonates and reverberates today.
English punk from this era has a very distinctive sound. Personally I'm more a fan of US punk and how it feels more assertive. Surprised this band doesn't get spoken about as much--solid album.
How have I never heard of this band?! This is perfect for me! Punk - check. Melodies - check. Good musicians - check. Interesting songs - check. I barely now anything about this band, but I sure as hell gonna. 8,5 out of 10
One of the few early punk bands I never really listened to. But I like the record.
Melodic, catchy, well (and at times sloppy) played with chorus hooks to die for. That’s punk to me!
Weird punk
Another nice addition from the early days of punk from the UK. It sounds as much punk as you want it to sound. I like it but since I prefer rother genres more I can only rank it with 4 stars.
pretty great, a unique strain of classic british first wave punk, i can see why it didn’t catch on as much as the clash & pistols but they probably should be mentioned in the same breath
This whole album is just drenched with irony. One Chord Wonders is a hell of a way to start an album. Safety in Numbers, what is that? a busted cone on the bass amp? Sounds like a wild animal prowling its cage, marking time before it bursts out. This whole thing goes so hard from start to finish. I've not listened to this one before. Where have you been all my life? Apparently publishing your best work while I was a toddler. I love love love this album.
"Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts" is a raw and compelling punk rock album that encapsulates the raw energy of the genre's early days. Released in 1978, it marks a defining moment in The Adverts' career, showcasing their fierce and unapologetic sound. Tracks like "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" and "Bored Teenagers" capture the band's rebellious spirit and catchy hooks. The album's production is minimalistic, allowing the intensity of the performances to shine through. However, the album's sonic qualities might be a bit challenging for some listeners due to its lo-fi nature. While not as polished as some later punk releases, "Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts" remains a historic and authentic representation of the punk movement, making it essential listening for punk enthusiasts and those interested in its origins.
I literally don’t have much to say, but it’s just English punk rock. It’s not bad, but if you know anything about English punk rock, you will have already heard this album. I still liked it though. 7/10.
Love hearing an early punk record that's not Ramones, Sex Pistols or Clash. A lot of catchy, energetic hooks and solid and engaging song writing.
Album 130 of 1001 The Adverts - Crossing the Red Sea Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Gary Gilmore's Eyes I'm getting to where I really enjoy some good 70s Punk. Some that came out in the early 70s leaves a bit to be desired, but The Adverts is an example of the genre that I do like. They may not hit the pinnacle of The Ramones or The Stooges, but they certainly hold their own. Some fun, catchy tunes. Musicianship holds up. Recommended.
7/10
Had no idea what to expect when I started listening to this, but I really liked it. The standouts for me are “New Church,” “On the Roof,” and “Great British Mistake.” This is a great punk album and one I’m sure I’ll listen to again and again.
weird, punky goodness.
This was way better than I thought it was gonna be! It might be the angst, but I thought the lyrics were pretty good, and the music had some good hooks. BT - One Chord Wonders - Bored Teenagers - Safety In Numbers - Great British Mistake
Quite good. Significantly better than some more famous punk albums from that period.
I liked this quite a bit & they reminded me a bit of The Damned at times. The album was far too long, though. Good listen. 3.5 stars
Never heard of The Adverts, lets see what's up... I see why now; they fall under the british punk scene, which is something I have listened to relatively little. While this isn't something I would listen to much consciously, I will say that it makes for great background noise while I'm working. For that I give it a soft 4. Also, I swear that The Disco Biscuits ripped the guitar rift from "One Chord Wonders" when I saw them live for the first time to close out a song. I'll figure out which song, but it was this show for those who care (nobody): https://www.nugs.net/live-download-of-the-disco-biscuits-9%3A30-club-washington-dc-04-20-2010-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming/4964.html
Kicks ass! An excellent UK punk album.
Solid punk album!
Proper punk propulsion.
Pretty fun punk album. Was waffling between 3 and 4, but I'm gonna lean high on this one, it has a vibrancy that makes me want to come back to it soon.
An actual good punk album. Punk usually does pretty much nothing for me but this was good. Really catchy songs. It also goes by insanely fast. Definitely worth the listen. Score: 80 Art: 60
Excellent early punk rock. A bunch of catchy, hard rocking, two to three minute songs. What's not to like? 4 stars.
Never heard of them but it was enjoyable!
This was cool
Unexpectedly punk! I thought this was gonna be psychedelia from the band/album name. I dug this - it's veering towards post-punk in places - seems a more interesting listen than just straight ahead punk. Fave track - "One Chord Wonders" is a fun opener. "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" is catchy as hell.
Possibly a good album but a bit too raw. And I know several albums of that time.
Sorely tempted to make a snide comment hinting at James's Little Richard review and say "all these songs sound the same" (which made me laugh out loud cuz it's not WRONG) but it equally misses the point with the Adverts! Cuz just like Little Richard, these songs are a quintessential example of their genre, which happens to also feature 4-on-the-floor relentless shouting energy that sound great in shitty speakers and rarely surpass the 3-minute mark - 25 songs but just over an hr (I stopped after the original 13 due to time constraints). Interestingly I definitely hear some parallels to something Bowie leans into later (think On the Roof here in 78 vs the lyrical phrasing in Modern Love off Let's Dance in 83). Enjoyed it more than I expected to being an extremely casual fan of Punk music. 4
A solid, energetic Brit punk album. I don’t think of heard of these guys before and glad to have listened to it.
I had outright never even heard of this band before it came up. And I thought I was pretty up on my early UK and NY punk! I don't have a lot of specific thoughts about this album other than it's right in the wheelhouse of some of my absolute favourite punk. I will be revisiting this one for sure!
I had never heard of this band before but I enjoyed their music quite a bit. Would definitely check out more by them.
If someone asked to show them punk for the first time I would show them this album I would have loved to go to one of their shows in the 70s and 80s
Didn't have a very strong impression
Gary Gilmore's Eyes was the last song I listened to as a single man. My iPod shuffled it up randomly as I drove to my wedding. Good album, but it runs out of gas a bit towards the end.
Du très bon punk.
Some pretty good punk music. Really enjoyed listening to this.
Shouty and repetitive but I quite liked it. Must have been in the right mood
Love this album!
An energising and driving punk album, it has those early days bunk vibes like The Clash that I love. Never heard of these guys but will be added to the list of re-listens for sure. Favourite tracks - One Chord Wonders, On the Roof, No time to be 21.
Nice snotty B level punk. The band is good - the record is good too - but it’s not Never Mind the Bollocks, Ramones. Dead Kennedies or the Clash. It stands proudly in the hall oh oh m though.
Very solid early punk.
I thought I was completely fed up with punk after getting so many punk albums on this generator in such a short period of time, BUT this one really was enjoyable- loved the catchy melodies and not too aggressive sound.
Another solid one
A new one on me that didn’t disappoint
Pretty good punk album! I listened to the 2022 re-release with two added tracks, but the original EP would be even more tight. Easy listening due to different rhythms and melodies which make each track different, clean instruments, short hook-heavy songs. Stand-out tracks: Bored Teenagers, New Church, Gary Gilmore's Eyes, No Time to Be 21.
Oh wow I am liking this a lot! I guess this is kind of that English punk new wave sound, but a band I've never heard. Like it right in there with the Specials and the UK Subs. Band totally fits the time. Overall, the sound is perfect, harmonious and not to gratuitously angry, good lyrics, sweet guitars, short songs, and more than one chord per song. Baseline for 'On Wheels' is pretty sick. What a great band. Nice to find a new one I actually like!!
I'm totally fine with donating my organs, or whatever is useful, after my death. I would also be totally fine with receiving the donated organs of someone else, if I had the need. But donated eyes is a bit weird. Eyes are organs, but they are a bit unique as far as organs go, what with being partially on the outside, and being instrumental in a sense that allows us to perceive the world. Plus, watching someone else's eyes get poked or touched or injured or anything affects me in a way that manipulating internal organs never does. But Gary Gilmore wanted to donate only his eyes. In fairness, he thought that would be the only part of his body that remained useful, after his execution by firing squad. He chose firing squad over other options, and also asked not to have his execution stayed, following his conviction of double murder in 1977. He was the first person executed in America in 10 years, after the Supreme Court decided in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment. Most of The Adverts' debut album was fun and irreverent punk, but "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" certainly has a different edge to it. Regardless, it was a raucous and enjoyable album.
Never heard of The Adverts before. Such a cool sound. Impressive album.
Yeah man, digged this hit all the punky spots.
Punky fun
Enjoyed the album and would definitely listen to more of their stuff.
Prima old-school punk
A good catchy 70s punk album Stand out tracks - Bored teenagers No time to be 21 Great British Mistake
Very fun art U.K. punk. Will be checking out more of this band
Pretty fun album with a comfortable upbeat yet dpur vibe. I dunno maybe it was my mood today, but this album can really blend in with the background and just be the groove for a whole day on repeat. Unexpected for a band ive never heard of or abput. Surprised to say 4/5
High energy, great sounding late 70's punk! Just what I needed to drown out the bland, commercially, overrated albums from the 80's & 90's in the last few posts. An often overlooked band, I apparently overlooked them too and I love the era. Kind of Buzzcocks-esque, with some mighty fine snotty lyrics and fast guitar. Glad to finally listen to The Adverts, highly recommended!
Awesome album...crazy energy from start to finish. It would have been a treat to see these guys live in the day. Starts off with a bang with One Chord Wonders and it just never lets up. Gary Gilmor's Eyes - classic. New Church - unrelenting. 4.5 stars
Great stuff
Nice punk stuff :)
English punk rock at its best. Great album
I enjoyed this pretty well. Had not heard of them before so it was a good listen.
Good punk album, enjoyed the two listens!
Call me stupid, but I really like this. Never heard it before. Will listen to it again.
jag brukar inte gilla punk men detta var bra
I just love the 70's UK punk sound- so fresh and raw. Reminds me of playing 7" vinyl singles on the portable player in my bedroom at top tinny volume until my dad started kicking the door and telling me to turn it down. After a while it's kind of samey but great nonetheless.
This album surprised me with how thoughtful it was. The music was for more interesting than other British punk and the lyrics were better than expected. I hear moments on this album that would later be brought to fruition by the Clash the next year on 'London Calling.' The Adverts were definitely on to something here and managed to make good punk that was true to its roots while looking forward to post-punk.
Solid early punk
Great punk band in the apotheosis of this movement. To the usual punk energy and craziness, The Adverts adds a touch of nice melodies that makes the album attractive.
I might grumble about the book this app is based on, but I have to admit this project also allows you to discover great stuff. I thought I knew the most important names in original British punk rock. I was dead wrong. This album is great (and the one after that is not bad either, as misunderstood as it was at the time). I still have to find my way as to what choice words I could use to convey how original this band was while still retaining the basic ingredients of punk. In the meantime, I'll merely highlight "One Chord Wonders", "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" (originally a single) or "Safety In Numbers" as the true punk gems they are. But mostly, I will finish this very short review by praising how f*cking epic closer "Great British Mistake" sounds, even today. Thanks, Dimery and co. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 891 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 57 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 29 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 24
This is as good as any punk band I've ever heard which means it's bad according the punk fans I know. Whatever, I really liked it.
Had never heard of the Adverts before but I really dug it! Classic punk, a very fun listen although it does get a bit repetitive. Did not need to hear Gary Gilmore's Eyes three times. 4/5 stars
This is an interesting early British punk album. It came on the heels of the first slate of punk albums that were released in 1977. This album is more melodic and poppy than the Sex Pistols, though not quite as fun and strange as the Ramones. Overall, it's a really good early punk album. The Adverts share a lot of sonic similarities with the Buzzcocks, though the Advert's lyrics are a little more in the traditional punk mold. Overall a really fun album that slipped through the cracks of history while the Sex Pistols and Clash went on the become mega-famous 4/5
this album was completely average. i liked some of the songs but nothing totally stood out to me that really made me enjoy
7/10. Just the right amount of punk
Solid punk. 7/10
Bored Teenagers would have been a great song as a bored teenager. Gary Gilmore’s eyes, woof. Safety in Numbers maybe birthed new wave? Fun stuff.
What a great punk rock album. It really captured and embodied that teen/early adulthood angst. With shredding distortion and punching lyrical delivery, this is one I wish I had heard earlier. Best: No Time to Be 21 Worst: Bombsite Boy Note: Spotify had all the 2002 release with Single Edits & Live performances. I only listened to the original 13 tracks.
Nisam očekivala da će mi ovaj punk album biti toliko slušljiv. Većinom mi nije žanr od kojeg bi slušala albume jer mi nakon duljeg slušanja postane malo iritantno, ali je ovo bilo iznenađujuće dobro i ne naporno.
I was familiar with "Gary Gilmore's eyes" but hadn't heard the rest of the album. I feel like the Adverts are underrated in the history of punk rock and new wave.
This was good fun.
121225 14:18 4 / highlights: great british mistake, one chord wonders, new church
Schön schrabbeliger first wave punk mit genug Spaß am Hall über düster verhangenen Bridges und gar nicht so shouty-tumben Songwriting. Etwas überhöhte 3.5
Much better punk album than the clash.
классическая панкуха
Seemed a bit more nicely produced than a lot of the punk albums, and as per most punk, i loved the energy.
A couple of real earworms in there.
Solid
I've spent ages relistening to this to get a handle on it - it's an access drug to punk with a fascinating back story - read up on them. Album named by Jane Suck who's disappeared, band lasted only 3 years - but delivered so much
Angst
I’ve really been getting into the origins of my favourite genre lately. Especially the UK stuff. I’ve had Bored Teenagers on my playlist for a while now but wasn’t familiar with their other stuff. Really dug this Top Tracks: “Bored Teenagers” “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” “New Church”
the site deleted my notes but this album was a lot of fun
I really vibed with this album for whatever reason, awesome stuff. Just great punk rock. Crazy to contrast this to all the prog rock around at the time.
Delightfully tight and catchy early punk, this was a very nice treat today.
This was super solid! There would be 2-3 alright punk songs then WHAM an absolute banger. "Bored Teenagers" had to hit like a truck if you were in fact a bored teenager at the time. Anthemic and punchy and super well-played, especially for punk music. "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" was solid and clearly made with the aim of a wider audience in mind, but the following "Bombsite Boy" was the best track on the album. A little theater of the mind intro that breaks into a ruckus, unhinged track with a fantastic chorus. The way they bookend the choruses with the "bombsite boy! bombiste boy!" line is lovely. Substantive punk with one of the first women to breakthrough in the scene its a firm 3/5 probably higher on repeated listens
Just fine, and seemingly a little ahead of its time.
Not bad for punk, but it’s still punkI
Average British punk
Mejor que otros, no tanto como ya sabemos quienes. Nota: 3.0
The singles are decent enough, but at times felt like punk by numbers. A bit samey. Also rans when compared to the thoroughbreds of the genre, such as the Pistols and The Clash.
Perfectly fine punk
Old skool punk. Not the best lyrics or quality musicians and sounds dated now.
This seemed pretty standard. Not early enough to break new ground and not late enough to try new things. But still it's punk rock so how bad can it be?
Noisy
New wave |------X---| Punk
Just some solid 70s punk. It didn't blow me away, but I enjoyed listening to it a fair bit.
Decent with some good songs, but not essential when put up against so many other punk bands of this era.
Didn’t listen to much of this - sounds like the pop punk of its day and that original or interesting? Fun though.
pretty good
This is like a perfect little time capsule of punk before it became more sophisticated. Musically it’s fun power chord ramalama with snarling vocals. Lyrically it’s fairly basic but Gary gilmores eyes does have a slightly twilight zone vibe to it. Like many time capsules we’ve moved on a lot but it’s an interesting picture of the past
o bom e velho punk ingles é bem parecido com todos os outros, por mais que não seja ruim
In common with most punk albums of the era, when it nails it it's brilliant. But there can be lapses into mundane guitar stuff.
Already forgot what it was. I think it was kind of Brit pop punkish. 5/10
Poppy brit punk. Good stuff that would work a lot better at a different time in my life. Still dug it.
I'd never heard of The Adverts till today. Did a little bit of reading prior to listening, but there wasn't much out there. I have enjoyed the British punk albums in the project so far, so I figured I'd like this too. And I generally did. There were no songs that blew me away, but there was a consistent sound that I liked. The songs weren't as grating as some punk can be, especially the vocals which were very easy to listen to. My favorites were One Chord Wonders, On the Roof, and Great British Mistake. Not sure if it'll be a three or a four, as it's somewhere in the middle.
no I won't be listening to all the edits at the end! 3
Some really catchy and fun songs on this album but the quality of the songs vary widely. The distortion and the singing is the same but some songs just don't stick as well in my head. It was fun having a punk album on this list that I enjoyed.
A decent British Punk album. I am just not that big a fan of Punk. 3 stars or C.
625/1001 2026.05.29 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
this may be the ugliest album cover i have ever seen in my life, music's fine tho
Fun punk!
ist das rock einf?? ok ne is schon eher so punk bzw punk rock i guess all in all… naja also habs nit nit gut gfunden aber hat mi 0 abgeholt leider. sehr neutrale 3/5
pretty good actually
Bass player had a great look but sadly the material doesn't rate.
This appears to be a seminal punk album, but it didn't do much for me. For a debut, it's surprisingly well-produced, tight, and at times even melodic, but it didn't really have much that helped transcend my mild aversion to the punk/garage sound. My problem, not theirs, of course. The best of the lot was probably "On the roof", the strangely controversial "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" (although I guess not technically part of the original album) and the somewhat haunting "Drowning men". And what a bummer that TV Smith couldn't have joined up with Television for the meta-irony, punk-style....
There's too much punk on this list. Maybe I've been worn down, but this isn't so bad. At least it's melodic.
While definitely a nice piece of early melodic punk rock, it really lacks a special track to bump it up closer to the classics. Still, a very enjoyable listen, even if it's more style than substance. Favourite track: On the Roof
It was OK
Ok
I hear early post punk, it's punk rock mixed with a little psych. I dig T.V. Smith's vocal style and the music is high energy raw rock. Never heard these guys but I like it, can tell they came out with Joy Division and that scene.
good stuff. punk rock.
It’s alright for Brit punk, but every song sounds the same
Decent enough, solid punk offering, but there are definitely better alternatives from the time, which means I would be reluctant to revisit. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 317 Already owned : 70 Purchased : 15 To buy : 4 Nope : 228
I enjoyed this. It was new to me. I wanted to find my new favourite punk album. It wasn’t quite that, but I had a good time with it all the way through. Rating could go up over time.
Pretty decent. More interesting and musical than I expected, plenty of interest and each track sounded different. A pleasant surprise. Would listen again.
Fine example of classic punk with poorly played instruments.
It wasn't rocket science or high art, but then that's the entire opposite of what punk is supposed to be anyway. This scratched an itch that I needed scratched.
You can really feel the influence on later punk rock this band had. Really solid late 70's punk rock.
Just recently they came up for something, other than that I have never heard of these guys. pretty cool punk rock.
"On Wheels" actually has a cool groove to it. I have learned from this 1001 Albums experiment that I really don't care for punk that much. This is more palatable than some others for sure, but it's still very British, very 70s and I don't enjoy it *that* much. That said, there's enough musical stuff here and there to keep me interested. Some metal influences, some stuff that sounds like early The Cure, and hints of gothic rock too. Maybe more of a foundational album than a truly great one, but I think that's about half the list overall.
Probably wouldn't listen to this again
Fine. Boring. Somewhere in between maybe.
Words like rap and punk cause automatic responses in these reviews that seem to make everyone gravitate to either love or hate this music and defend that review based on personal taste. This album is great example of something that belongs in the middle. It’s not great, it’s not terrible - it’s a fun, upbeat album of clean, stylized punk rock that is a good listen.
Old school punk done well, I'll crank up the volume on this stuff everytime. The opening track was clever, I enjoyed the wit. The rest of the album was great, no complaints from me. That said, there isn't anything particularly special about it. Just a really cool punk album.
All the negative reviews for this album are complaining about how it’s their 9th British punk album they’ve had to listen to but for me it’s my first so I’m riding high baby!
Favorite track(s): One Chord Wonders, New Church, Bombsite Boy Additional shoutout the single Gary Gilmore's Eyes.
Rating: 6/10 Decent UK 70's punk, not much more to me. None of the songs particularly stood out as great but it was mildly fun
British 70s punk, which is better than I expected.
This was okay — regular old British punk
3.5 Had low expectations but thought it was a fun little listen. Uncertain if anything will stick with me
It’s so hard to tell how much talent and creativity goes in to some punk music. Is it pioneering? Is it just a repetitive racket? How much do I like it? Who fucking knows.
ура ещё один панк и те же аккорды! научиваюсь ценить скилл в барабанах... в принципе норм, борд тинейджерз заставляет задуматься про жанр в целом, но слушать сама я такое конечно не буду
It's pretty good, just not my taste. Love the album cover, though.
A bit more mellowed out in comparison to the White Stripes era, I don't know the solo stuff before this (if there is any) but quite enjoyable. Extra points for the vulture on the cover.
3/5
Crossing the Red Sea With The Adverts doesn’t sound all that different from almost any other UK punk band from the same era. Or maybe that’s just my untrained ears—I guess I wasn’t pre-programmed to enjoy punk the way other people are. There’s definitely less anarchy here than with their contemporaries, but either way, I’m indifferent to this album and fairly certain this wasn’t something I needed to hear before I died.
Loved hearing this early British punk. A handful of great songs on here
Sounds like a repetitive version of the Ramones
Just overtly mid, I mean, sure that's exactly what postponk should be in the late 70s. And the rhythms are nice, the vocals are adequate. It seems like the songs are really just kind of about being a punk band or living the life that the adverts live.I don't know it's just mid
Good punk!
Solid enough punk, short and to the point.
Fine. Similar to most of the other punk albums I've heard so far.
The Buzzcocks but less memorable tunes. Could be a grower though.
Uhhh... happy Easter to those who celebrate it! I'm not religious but I've always liked celebrating Easter with nice dinners and egg related activities. I'm padding out this review because I really don't have much to say about this Adverts album. It is a good, albeit fairly unremarkable, early punk album. There really isn't anything that this album does that you don't get from other British punk bands of the time like the Clash or the Sex Pistols, but there's also nothing in particular that this album does wrong. Dare I say, it's actually quite good. The singing isn't annoying. That's always good to hear. The musical compositions aren't completely one-note. There's some neat moments here. The writing is a little confusing for my liking, but it's not bad or offensive in any way. This is just a solid time. It's the kind of album that you listen to, enjoy it, and then move on with your life. Not bad at all. High 3/5.
Went to school with TV smith (Tim Smidmore), he was a couple years older in a band with a friend of mine. Thought Gary Gilmores eyes was a great track. The rest of the album is of its time, a few good songs, but most just pass me by. Quite a raw basic sound.
Kind of punkish, quite good!
I didn’t go to school with any of the band. This is just a solid punk album. Not bad but nothing special.
Good, not great
Decent. I grew up with lots of American teen angst punk, plenty of which was worse than this.
3.5
Not bad, although I suspect there are plenty of punk groups like this band with similar sounds. Why was this one picked for the 1001 list? At best average.
Yeah starting to realize I’m not a huge punk fan The sound on this one honestly isn’t awful, I’m used to punk sounding a lot crunchier so for being a record from so early in the genre it sounds fine. There’s some decent guitar work in there and it was in an uptempo music kinda mood today so it sorta hit the spot There’s still a lot I don’t like about the album; there’s some parts that are a bit too chaotic that just kinda annoy you, vocals are just bad enough where it’s something I have to bring up, and the variety kinda sucks. Also I don’t think there’s a single song I can point to and say “yeah that’s a good one” I liked it more than some of the other punk we’ve gotten on here but it’s nothing too special. Pretty easy 5/10 album for me
I don't know how to feel about this album. it's interesting to say the least, but I didn't really like it. I was told that this album is my kind of vibe and I just didn't feel it.
Probably the least annoying British punk rock album I've had to listen to. It falls short of bring an officially great album because just about every song sounds the same, and there's not a whole lot of substance, but they're decent musicians. They can actually play instruments really well and create musical harmony, which I realize sounds like a bare minimum for music, but most punk rockers don't even get this far. The average punk band is too concerned with rebellion that they don't even bother to make something that resembles music, but the Adverts are able to balance their rebellious spirit with actual music. It's fun to listen to, and it's not something I have to force myself to find positives with.
really british
It's as good as any punk from this era I've heard. Second half of the album falls off but it started strong. 3/5.
Decent punk record, nothing too special about it.
A fun, simple 70's British Punk album. Liked it fine, may listen again
fun, clever, surprisingly tuneful little record - it's easy to see how new wave grew out of bands like this when early punk was so arch and jangly. it's probably not gonna blow any minds if you're, like me, knocking on the door to your 30s, but these Adverts are good hangs! extra significance for being the first completely new to me artist so far - was fun to have no concept of what to expect
Das Debütalbum der Londoner Punkband The Adverts entstand im November 1977 in den Abbey Road Studios unter der Regie von Produzent John Leckie – ein auf den ersten Blick unwahrscheinlicher Ort für rohen First-Wave-Punk, der aber dem Sound eine erstaunlich klare, druckvolle Präsenz verleiht. Bright Records, damals im Vertrieb von Anchor Records, veröffentlichte das Album am 3. Februar 1978 und katapultierte es umgehend auf Platz 38 der britischen Charts. Elf Stücke, überwiegend Neueinspielungen bereits bekannter Live-Nummern, bilden ein kompaktes Gesamtwerk von selten erreichter Konsistenz innerhalb der Punkbewegung. T. V. Smith liefert mit Tracks wie „One Chord Wonders", „Bored Teenagers", „No Time to Be 21" und „Great British Mistake" ein Songwriting, das weit über den üblichen Parolen-Punk hinausreicht. Seine Texte – sezierend, lakonisch, mit literarischen Verweisen bis hin zu Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 – treffen den Nerv einer Generation ohne Aussicht und ohne Illusionen. Gaye Advert hält an der Bassgitarre alles zusammen: unspektakulär, aber unfehlbar präzise. Was das Album auch Jahrzehnte später so zwingend macht, ist sein Gleichgewicht aus roher Energie und melodischem Gespür. Wo viele Zeitgenossen entweder im Lärm versanken oder ins Poppige abglitten, hielt die Band ihre Spannung bis zum letzten Akkord von „Great British Mistake". Persönlich gesprochen: Kein Punk-Debüt dieser Ära klingt so, als hätte eine Band genau gewusst, was sie wollte – und es dann tatsächlich geliefert. Ein Album, das die erste Welle des britischen Punk nicht nur dokumentiert, sondern auf Anhieb überragt hat.
Super average. Also they padded out like half the album by having the same songs multiple times.
Decent punk record. Sounds like it might reward repeat listens
Very generic British punk.
They could obviously write a hook, but the Adverts are a bit like their namesake - good for grabbing your attention in short bursts, but after a while, you start to tune out.
Aside from The Clash I’m not much of an English punk fan.
Punk is so boring and I’m tired of pretending it’s not
Wow, I had forgotten all about this group! "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" really took me back to those far simpler days of 1978. Comparisons to the Sex Pistols or Clash are largely hyperbolic, but style-wise they are certainly in that neighborhood. I would rate them mostly harmless fun.
cool, early punk
Singer sounds a lot like Jay Reatard. Solid UK pop punk.
A lot of filler again but some really good tracks and overall a consistent sound. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, not sure
Not bad for a punk rock album
Did I enjoy this? Yes Shall it be remembered? Shall what be remembered?
It's alright
3/5. I don’t have a ton to say about this one honestly. Solid enough early punk album. Better than the Sex Pistols, not as good as the Ramones.
3+
Really like 70s British punk, even though a lot sounds the same. This made me check out more bands from the genre though, so that's good. 3/5
Pretty fun. A great first track and some cool moments throughout.
Album Review 073 Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts by The Adverts (1978) Rating 3.5/5 Crossing The Red Sea… is fine example of the first wave of UK punk and is often cited as being one of the best and most consistent and coherent albums of the genre. There are some good songs on here and the albums is brimming with the energy, anger and disillusionment of 1977/78 UK teenagers. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it today and need to give it another listen (with more volume and more cider next time), but it’s the old adage of the tallest dwarf or the prettiest pig: it’s a really good UK punk album, but ultimately it’s a UK punk album.
First listen the songs blend together but a decent album
Very British, very punk. Not bad, but without the brit-bias this would not have made the list.
Decent. Catchy chords, understandable vocalizations, and not a harmonica in sight. Tracks are only a few minutes long; album is just over half an hour - everything a competent album should be. If I stuck with this long enough, I think some of these tracks would make their way into my long-term memory, but it's not quite interesting enough to inspire that effort.
I’m giving the a generous score. This didn’t stand out bad or good. I did like the overall sound, and vibe.
Pretty good
Not my genre but think this is pretty good
Fun punk without being too in-your-face. If I could give half stars, this one would get an extra half, but ultimately it’s not memorable enough to get a full 4.
Good punk album or whatever. I mean it’s not personally in a genre where if I lost it I’d mourn night and day over it but I mean it’s an alright album. Will I ever come back, nah. Will I revisit the band without being forced to by 1001, nah. Will I remember anything about this, nah.
solid punk
makes me angry (in a good way) Best Song: Bored Teenagers Rating: 6/10 Stars: 3/5
Great example of what’s good about this list. I’d never listened to this before and probably won’t again. But I’m really glad to have been exposed to this. Really solid British punk music. They played nice role in the scene. I’ve learned something and better for it.
British pop punk like this is never a sound that has resonated with, so after a certain point this album was hard to pay attention to. That being said, now I am replaying a few of the songs, there’s definite quality in here, with danceable melodies. New church for example, i’m playing now. and it is enjoyable. Nothing here is of low quality. If i was more partial to the sound of classic punk, I’d probably love this album, maybe this sound will grow on me as i listen to more albums like it.
This is one of the holes in my early punk listening. The short songs are definitely in my wheelhouse so with open ears here we go. I vaguely recognized "Bored Teenagers", I'm sure I've heard it on a mix tape or in a bar or both. Mostly fun stuff and if I'd heard it in the late '70s I'd have bought the album.
Good punchy British punk rock. At first I was afraid it was going to be yet another noisy album, but it came together alright overall.
Old skool punk rock. Gary Gilmore's Eyes did not feature on the original. One of the memorable punk anthems.
This album had it's moments. Can't say any song really stood out except Gary Gilmore's Eyes. Have no idea why I know this from memory, but Gary Gilmore was the last person to be executed by firing squad in the US. Utah. His last word's were "Let's do this." Some say that's the inspiration for the now famous, Just Do It. Nike motto. F Phil Knight and all his slave shops. F Oregon too. I didn't mind this album overall. Enjoyable for the most part, but nothing really that stands out outside of Gary Gilmore. The last things his eyes saw were guns aimed at his heart. Rightfully so. 3
3.5 Back when I was a young, anarchy-preaching, glue-sniffing 12-year old who had recently discovered the Internet and YouTube for the first time, I remember embarking on a mission to listen to every punk band ever, in ode to my personal favorites at the time, The Ramones. I stumbled upon some Wikipedia article that attempted to list every notable group in alphabetical order, so I worked my way down from the top. I don’t really remember much from that experiment (to be honest, I don’t think I ever made it past the A’s), but two songs still stand out to me now - Stand and Delivery by Adam & The Ants and Gary Gilmore’s Eyes by The Adverts. Lord knows I had no clue who Gary Gilmore was or what his eyes had to do with anything, but boy, did I have this song on repeat - when it came time to getting my first mp3 player and iTunes gift card, I’m almost positive it was one of the first songs I purchased with it. I don’t listen to the song as much now, but it’s certainly still one I have saved on streaming and that pops into the shuffle every once and a while. However, it struck me when this album showed up on this list that I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard anything else by The Adverts since that day in like ‘09 or whatever, and after listening now, I kind of see why. Look, a punk album is always going to get a good score out of me, and I enjoyed my 31 minutes with this one here, but it’s far from a standout in the genre. Topically, there’s really not much being said anywhere, and production-wise, this was pretty rough (which is kind of insane if you look at the guy’s other works). Don’t get me wrong, overproduction and sanitization is the enemy of good punk rock music, but this doesn’t give that raw, visceral feeling, it just kind of feels garbled. That said, if you’re a fan of that first wave, British punk sound like I am, you’ll still likely enjoy this album - that charm is still very much present, though perhaps a bit quieter as compared to similar releases from the era. To bring this review full circle, I went and saw The Damned one night after work last year and made it in time to see their opener, TV Smith. Having never heard of them (I assumed it was a group), I was pleasantly delighted to discover that it was actually the singer of this band, sans his fellow Adverts (I think he lost the rights to the name or something). Regardless, it was a mostly Adverts set - at least as far as I can deduce given the lack of setlist online - and he closed with Gary Gilmore’s Eyes. I can’t say it was any kind of all-time concert performance, but it was a bit of a watershed moment in my ever-growing musical journey. …wait, what do you mean the song wasn’t on the initial pressing of the album?
Not super my thing again. Live would probably be cool but all the songs kind of sound the same to me. Just not really my style of music.
Average punk.
A solid punk album, loud, angry, and vaguely catchy.
On a first listen, I was pretty unimpressed. I didn't dislike it by any means, it just felt like extremely mid early British punk (and it is VERY British). I warmed to it on a second listen. It is indeed profoundly British and of its time. Aside from the occasional bridge or pre-chorus, every song is structured pretty much the same, and the drum and bass is pretty interchangeable. But it's also a good formula. I'd never heard of this band, but I suspect that if they had stuck around, they'd occupy a sub-Buzzcocks space in the annals of early punk, and especially early British punk.
This is just as solid as lot of the other punk on the list, so unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon your point of view) I don't have much to say about this album. There's a few really good tracks, though. Favorite track(s): "Safety in Numbers," "On the Roof"
It was fine. Standard British punk from the late 70’s
angry teenage boy typa music eh
Not bad!
Mid 2.5/5
Kult, aldri hørt om! Var fett
I enjoyed the album surprisingly much. However, you can tell how old it is. I probably won't listen to it again. 3/5
Some real punk rock. I like the vocals though, and it's a surprisingly anthemic opener. The next couple tracks are good too, especially New Church. This is straightforward, fast and loose, and it's definitely not overproduced. It's melodic though and the bouncy bass and speedy tempos will keep you nodding along. I can imagine screaming out some of the choruses if I'd been a young concert goer in 1978 (I wasn't born yet, which made it hard to go to a lot of punk shows). No Time to Be 21 even has a solo, but Safety in Numbers is probably my favourite, aggressive riffing and more fast bass work. Great British Machine is a great closer too. This is a tight little package.
pretty good
I liked this more than Goldie/Timeless and in fact liked it more than I expected to for a punk album, though will probably never press play on it again--still not my thing.
Formative as I expect they were, they scan as another bland Punk album. Not helped by a Wall of Sound style of production, which sounds suitably vinyl, but fundamentally unremarkable. While it gets 3 stars, my own capacity for scanning and appreciating Punk probably deserves less.
I will be seemingly with a smaller majority here and say this is a 3 out of 5 for me. Mostly because I normally don't listen to a lot of punk, but found this more enjoyable. I'm still not sold enough to purchase the album, but I feel like I'd join the unwashed punks and jump around for this.
Some fairly average punk. Didn't mind it but not sure what makes it list-worthy really.
One Chord Wonders: 7/10 MBPW Bored Teenagers: 6/10 MBPW New Church: 5.7/10 On The Roof: 5.3/10 Newboys: 5/10 Bombsite Boy: 5/10 No Time To Be 21: 4.8/10 Safety In Numbers: 4.6/10 Drowning Men: 4.3/10 On Wheels: 4/10 Great British Mistake: 5/10
Never heard this before but I like it and have added a bunch of these songs to the rotation. Nice upbeat poppy punk.
It was a regular Brit Punk band, nothing stood out in particular.
Hyper and catchy.
Infectious and found myself toe tapping along.
I like it - nice solid 3 (borderline 4)
A fun, energetic band who wants you to know exactly how young they are. They are very self referential, clearly understanding that the music they are making is powerful and arresting, if not exactly complex. You’re unlikely to have a bad time with The Adverts.
Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts is getting a high 3 from me. Some if it passed me by but a fair bit of it directly sounds like it’s had a big impact on some of my favourites, the rhythm section reminds me of echo and the bunnymen, and I like the overall vibe.
*1978. English punk. *Quick 36 minutes of fun punk. *Not as frantic-sounding as most bands in this genre, much more melodic. *Never heard of these guys before, but I'll revisit this album. RATING - 7/10
gary gilmore's eyes - in 1977 gary gilmore was the first person in ten years to be killed by the death penalty in the US (firing squad). He was convicted of murdering two people and he, himself, demanded the death penalty. Gilmore also requested his body parts be donated. Two people received transplants of his corneas. The song supposes these recipients are stigmatized and facing a tormenting dilemma by receiving the cold blooded killer's eyes: "The doctors are avoiding me. My vision is confused. . . . The eye receives the messages, And sends them to the brain. No guarantee the stimuli must be perceived the same... " Kinda like that Simpsons's Halloween episode "Hell Toupee" where Homer gets a hair transplant from Snake after he's executed. Post-transplant the hair causes Homer to kill Moe and Apu for revenge, becomes sentient, etc. Classic Americana!
I love a good punk album and this is a great punk album. Just classic British punk from the 70s. It's punk, but all the songs don't sound the same like they can on some punk albums. Loved it!
3, but a very very low 3.
Decent but not a standout
One of the better punk albums I've heard thus far in my life. They ain't no Clash or Ramones, but they're not that far off, either. If the album ended a few tracks earlier, probably a 4star album, but towards the backhalf I found myself routinely checking to see how many songs were left, as it dragged into generic territory.
My first time listening to or hearing of the Adverts, and I was pleasantly impressed. I'm not entirely sure how much 1970s UK punk needs to be listened to once you get outside of the main contenders. Crossing the Red Sea sounds like typical punk and shouts the same message, but a good listen. 3⭐️
Good British punk. Not great, but has it's moments. Favorite track: Gary Gilmore's Eyes
I hadn’t heard this before, but it’s pretty bog-standard 1970s punk. Inoffensive. But not—in any way— essential.
3.5 bien correcto punk rock ochentoso
One of the better punk albums I've heard. Thanks.
The British punk rock groups are starting to blur for me, but I thought this was pretty solid.
really liked this album faves: one chord wonders and bored teenagers
Idk another mediocre British punk rock album. This list sure loves those. Not the worst I've heard but it still gets a strong meh from me as it was fine I guess
Early punk - I can hear the sounds they inspired over the years.
not bad that 7/10
Not bad but to be honest the songs all kind of sound the same to me and all sound (to me) like every other punk song I've ever heard. Which I guess is fine if you're into that. I'll give it a three because it's not my thing but is maybe objectively decent?
Feels like standard punk fare to me. Not bad, good for skateboarding to!
The challenge with 1000 albums is that a huge portion are not bad, but they dont stand out. This one is one of the many. A good rock album, not much to say. Favorite track was Gary gillmores eyes
Liked it overall, but missing a really standout track!
I won’t make a habit of playing this, but quite enjoyed the album. An energetic example of late 70s British punk, if you’re looking for it.
gary gilmore's eyes is crazy I love it like a 3.5 - every song is good, but every song is also really similar
I mean... it sounds like punk rock to me. 3/5
I'm not a hugr fan of early British punk, but this was pretty good. There's some nice riffs and interesting lyrics, and I generally enjoyed listening. I probably won't ever revisit this, but it was good for one listen.
I had never listened to an Adverts album but I knew a couple songs from a 70s punk compilation called No Thanks! That compilation included Gary Gilmore’s Eyes, the charming story of a man that receives an eye transplant from a serial killer. That was on my Halloween mix for awhile. I enjoyed this album and liked Bombsite Boy especially, but if I’m going for this era and groove I’m probably still listening to the Buzzcocks.
Fun listen.
This started off pretty interesting but settled in the more anecdotal. I didn't have any song I wanted to listen to again without it being necessarily being a duff album. Worth exploring a bit more maybe?
A lot better than I would usually give an album like this. But it's pretty good in places
Never heard of The Adverts prior to this album; having no expectations before listening has always made this project a hell of a lot more fun. This may be the first punk rock artist on the journey so far. Always struggled to grasp the lyrics with Punk Rock and, with the first song 'One Chord Wonders', it's no different. 'Bored Teenagers' is slightly better on that front, but I got lost in the bass too much to care. As the album progressed, I got further lost in the instruments and how contrasted and distinct the "punk sound" is from other genres of rock that it didn't matter if it's lead singer spoke English at all; I just didn't care about, what I assume to be, some anti-establishment/ disenfranchised youth crap. For it's sinister droning bassline alone, "On the Roof" became an instant favourite. Throughout the album, there are a number of tracks that have great basslines, which single handedly kept my attention through the album; tracks like "No time to be 21" and "Safety in Numbers". Despite this, the composition at the start of "We Who Wait" grabbed me immediately, then I was lost again as soon as the lead singer came in. Between a lack of musical vocabulary and being unable to understand the lead singer on my part, as well as a lack of distinction between songs, I felt there wasn't enough here to break down each individual track. Despite this, I did enjoy my time with this album and possibly just need to be exposed to more Punk Rock.
Better than I expected it to be. Has quite a good sound quality for a punk record, which is nice. I’d also like to point out that every track on the album is tagged as explicit on Apple Music, despite the fact that the only potentially offensive language is a single use of “bitching” (Note that I’m not counting the lyrics of the dozen bonus tracks, I didn’t listen to them). How strange.
>Be British in the 70s >Starts a punk band. I can name like 20.
Nice short punky tracks - decent
Alright
This is #day482 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's something from the late '70s again, right? I'd never heard of this band before, but I'm pretty into this era (especially early post-punk), and this record feels like one of those documents that capture its fleeting spirit. "On the Roof" and "Bombsite Boy” are probably my favorite cuts. Also fun to learn about Gaye Black, "one of punk's first female icons." The bass is really prominent throughout. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day483.
This was ok. It all kinda blended together, but there were some interesting songs. I've never heard of The Adverts, but I was 2 when this came out, so I guess that makes sense.