Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Fantastic stuff, jaunty, fun and very easy to listen to
Really ended up liking this one and then YouTube took me to more bands of the genre and I really enjoy it :)
Another banger today. I loved this! It's been fun rediscovering my taste for punk thanks to this list. New wave punk? Hell yeah.
chuli, chulito
Sure why not, 5stars
Classic punk, without the legacy of the two biggest bands perhaps. A few all time tracks, but even the surprising covers and less famous songs are great.
9/10 lots of fun, and certainly holds up from their previous album
I’ve enjoyed poppy-punk since the 90’s… so it is pretty fun to go back to the late 70’s and early 80’s to hear some older takes on that genre. I loved The Undertones’ debut album and I love this album. Fun!
So happy to get this. Absolutely love it. Played it a million times at the time. It really reminds me of being a geeky teen (still am geeky!) Listening back it has an authenticity that can't be bought. This is New Wave at it's best. Guitars, drums, bass and Feargal Sharkey. And I did have that Perfect Cousin that is now a millionaire.....it's enough to make you cry.
How have I've only just discovered the Undertones' Hypnotised album? I can't remember having this much fun listening to an album in a long time. And only 40 years too late! Is this the best album ever made? Absolutely not. But this proto poppunk makes me want to move and makes an bop my head. 4,5*
Loved this
Really good. Unmistakably The Undertones. Not as snarky as Sharkey often is. Wednesday Week is the clear stand out track from this album.
Sweet and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I did not expect to like this album as much as I did. I'm surprised I haven't heard of them before. I'm a sucker for happy punk.
I did not expect to like this album as much as I did. I'm surprised I haven't heard of them before. I'm a sucker for happy punk.
I love The Undertones' self titled, but I don't return to this one as much. Still, it's a great album. Maybe closer to 4.5, but I always round up and I've had so many bad albums recently.
The first four Undertones albums are all great (same goes for Skids - not sure if their albums are also on the list but they should). I probably have listened to Hypnotized the most, nonstop catchy pop punk songs.
A great album that reminds me of a better time in music when things were not afraid to be original
Really liked this. Funny songs with good instrumentals.
Excellent punk album.
I love punk, by which I mean the 70s' variant, not Green Day and their ilk. In fact, the music I was weaned on was punk; my brother is 15 years older than me, so I got all his old punk LPs in the 90s. Anyway, depite that, I have never liked the song Teenage Kicks; I found it mawkish and overplayed. It still never really appealed even after I realised it was about wanking. Nevertheless, I lsitened to listen without prejudice and I loved it! The Undertones were really a great adolescent band, and this album showed a slight addition of postpunk jerkiness. Above all, this album is fun, unalloyed joy. What else do you want?
Absolute classic
Big DEVO energy. Good album.
Banger
Love this one.
This is unc music critic slop, they only like it because it's UK post punk from the 80s
Great pop-punk, proving 'Teenage Kicks' wasn't a one-off.
These guys are pretty fun - easy peasy punky rocky.
Was never going to reach the heights of the debut but difficult 2nd. album nailed. Some good tunes on here.
7/10 Very good, as expected
A vast improvement from the debut album I listened to a few weeks ago. The lyrics were still a little childish and silly but the songs themselves were structured a lot better and had a bit more going for it instrumentally. Same with my previous review just good dumb fun but also slightly more interesting to listen too
Hyväntuulista punkki-ilakointia. Tuntu että mitä oudompi biisi sen enemmän tykkäsin. Kokonaisuus oli ilahduttava ja Tidalista löytyvän version lisäbiisit oli huikeita: etenkin I Don’t Wanna See (You Again).
Reipasta brittiräimettä, tykkään! Ihan älytön toi kansikuva :D
They are just a fun band. This second album a little more well formed musically than the first, but still same punk/pop energy, songs about teenagers, teenage angst, teenage desures, songs for teenagers by teenagers(?maybe or people that were once teenagers at least?). Love Fergal’s voice for this style of music but the guitar sound is the business, very 50’s rock. They are almost a rockabilly band in some parts.
A bit less good than their debut but still a wonderful pop punk album. Bubble gum and hooks large enough to land a blue whale.
Interesting, pop punk. Wonder if these are one of the first "pop punk" bands. This is some cool stuff. Starting to realize pop punk is a form of new wave.
Early 80s Irish punk vibe that I enjoy
But im actually reviewing their debut
Kinda enjoyed this, point for NI
Yeah this was good
I thought this was a lot of fun—pop punk, catchy hooks, fun interplay between instruments, and a compelling vocalist. I also like that they don't take themselves too seriously. I great discovery!
I enjoyed this enough that I want to dig deeper. That lands me at a 4/5
I think this is one of the bands people always said I should listen to as they are very similar to what I liked in the 90s. Turns out they were right
Some solid post-punk, stayed mostly interesting from song to song. Glad to have found out about these guys. Highlights-Songs About Chocolate and Girls, There Goes Norman, Hypnotised, Under the Boardwalk, The Way Girls Talk, Wednesday Week, Nine Times out of Ten, and Girls That Don't Talk
God wat heerlijk
lekker!
My fav kind
неплохая панкуха. Предтеча поп-панка
Had me hypnotised.......ah dang it, I couldn't resist making that pun.
Solid pop power punk. Varied tracks and fun playful vocals. This kind kicks ass.
Inspiring to me as a teenager. As an adult, I appreciate the raw energy, but it is just that: raw. Still good fun though.
I liked the upbeat nature of this album. It's a fun punk/rock album with some more fun pop elements included. Overall I'd say I was pleasantly surprised by this band I've never heard of!
This is my jam. Subtle and catchy guitar playing, and sings that have melody.
I enjoyed it, but didn't think there was anything super special about it.
First song wasn’t it. But as the album played, I got hooked. This band is tight. The production is clean. The lead’s voice isn’t my favorite, but this really comes together as quality, classic punk. Fun songs, good beats, sweet riffs. They nailed some blues guitar. Even rearranged a cover song. There’s a real range here. This was a nice surprise. Will definitely revisit.
a little too long for this style but it's a good style
For how much I tend not to like Pop Punk and stuff like it, this album was pretty fun. They're like Arctic Monkeys, except like 20-30 years before Arctic Monkeys were a thing. Maybe a few too many songs, but they keep it fun the entire time and I like the guy's singing.
Took a few listens but this album grew on me. Fun stuff. The cousin song is hilarious.
Ah I love these guys. Catchy punk that’s funny and got a lot of melody.
I think they are criminally underrated. The music is easily as good as the first Buzzcocks albums. It’s a very strong 4 for me.
An extremely modern sounding record that is part punk, part brit pop, and a whole lot of fun! Not much more I could ask from my Tuesday pull. It does tend to become a bit one note and some of the songs started to blend together towards the end, but it doesn't change how much fun I had listening to this album. 4/5
Fantastic, fun, uplifting punk from Northern Ireland.
pas mal du tout j'ai trouvé, l'impression d'avoir déjà écouté plein de ces sons, ou alors ils c'était des samples
A thoroughly enjoyable album.
Genre breaking, fratelis to strokes to aquabats silly
A album that sits in my collection and one I think I’ve previously underrated. Listening to it a couple of times, I realised what a near perfect album this is. Not a bad track on it and all to a good standard
That was fun
This gets points for feeling distinctive but loses some just because it’s not my style.
The ending of What's With Terry? brings it up to a 4/5 from a middle of the road affair.
Extremely solid
Favorite Track: Hypnotized
This is a fun listen. Pretty solid 80s punk that I've simply never come across. It's like playing a Tony Hawk video game or watching Jackass or something and just hearing some cool old punk song for the first time. Fun and somewhat nostalgic for me. Nice melodies, nice bass, nice production. Nothing in particular stands out too much, but it's a great album.
I don't know why this one irks me so much. It's like good Clash, but maybe it's that wobbly fucking voice. The songs are catchy and peppy. It's just lacking something. Most of all, I hate how much I like it.
8/10
I loved how catchy this was, and will definitely come back to it
Great fun to listen to. Great riffs, vocals and beats. Not desperate to listen to much of it again though (apart from My Perfect Cousin).
Solid stuð og fjör. Þessi plata getur rúllað endalaust.
Hrikalega skemmtilegt, ferskt og hressandi. Frábær hljómsveit.
Both very 80's and very modern
Cracking wee album, just excellent, and funny, songwriting. Favourite track: Wednesday Week
This album was weirdly fun. You can tell they didn't take themselves to seriously and that they just enjoyed making music together. Its punky and fun and just something that is enjoyable to listen to. Under the Boardwalk was a cool update on a classic. Chocolate and Whizz Kids were just fun songs about teenage drama but also a little more sophisticated. Sometimes the lead singers voice was a little too shaky (almost sounded like a goat bleating) but it wasn't too bad. New band, new vibes and they were fairly pleasant and fun.
The singer sounded like an optimistic and frivolous Jello Biafra to my ear, which was a bit disconcerting but not necessarily bad
Didn't know the undertones did under the boardwalk
My only real exposure to The Undertones had been Teenage Kicks up until now, so it's been an enjoyable few days listening to this punk-lite album and finding out how much fun they were. I had a vague recollection of My Perfect Cousin - I love those 70s 80s cultural references to bionics and Subbuteo. It's an album about growing up in a particular time and I wish I'd listened to it 45 years ago. Glad I listened to it today. Favourite other tracks included See That Girl and Hard Luck, with a word about the brilliant Under The Boardwalk cover - totally owned it! Feargal Sharkey's voice was far more suited to this rather than the mediocre pop he churned out in the mid 80s. A high 4 stars for putting a big smile on my face.
The opening riff immediately caught my attention and put a smile on my face.
Conflicted on if I want to call this punk rock or some weird power pop record. Either way a fun listen, the singer sounds like if Jello Biafra came out of the UK instead of the US lmao. 8/10.
7/10 A pretty fun pop punk album. I kinda wish they switched things up a bit, because even though the songs are short, they started getting a little samey. Still enjoyable regardless.
Worth listening to just for ‘my perfect cousin’ which I think is better than ‘teenage kicks’. This album is great fun and full of energy. A bit more depth and variety than their first album too.
Nice and chilled thx
UNDER THE BOARDWALK
There's just something about early punk I love
I need more Undertones in my life!
Just as I was finishing the album and thinking how much I enjoyed it, but also didn't think they probably justified having two albums in this collection, I discovered that I'd already listened to their debut album several hundred albums ago, and enjoyed that album a lot as well. It's not often that you get a band that puts together a solid track list, powers through them all (with a few fun videos thrown in), and you end up with only a few duds among the lot. My favorites were probably "More songs about chocolate and girls", "Hypnotised", "Wednesday week" and the ending pairing "Girls that don't talk" and "What's with Terry". And a great cover photo of the bassist and drummer setting down in the Bowery to seafood on their US tour. Well done (again), Undertones!
Wednesday Week was my favorite track on this new-to-me album. As a whole, the album is a fun pop/punk/rock blend and I appreciate their commitment to their unpretentious sound, which varies a nice amount across this album.
Good fun, never heard before, thank you album game 🙏
Never heard of them or this album, but it's crazy that seems to predate pop punk by a decade+. Pretty enjoyable, cleaner punk. 4* Highlights: there goes norman
I like the UNdertones but this kind of morphed into the background of whatever I was doing. Irish though so they get and extra star lol
I was not expecting to get the other Undertones record in the book so soon after I got the self-titled debut. Although the major boon of listening to these two albums within a relatively short time span of each other is that the debut is fresh in my mind when going into their second record, Hypnotised. This makes the review of the latter relatively easy, as I can simply put that this album is more of the same from The Undertones. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing, as there are some notable bands out there that found a working formula, and The Undertones seemed to fit in that camp. If the catchy guitar riffs, harmonious vocals, and tight rhythm section already work well for these songs of teenage restlessness, then why not continue to build upon that stable foundation? It certainly helps that the production sounds a bit more polished than the debut, further brightening the guitar textures. Yet, much like with the debut, I'm not sure how well this record stands out compared to the pantheon of pop punk and related music that came before and after, especially as it's clear they continued to crib from the Ramones and Buzzcocks a year later. Also, I'll freely admit that I'm ambivalent towards their cover of The Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk". Not badly played, but also not enough of a distinguishable take to feel like an inspired choice. I can only assume that because Hypnotised charted well in the UK at the time of release, it was included in the book. Because otherwise, it is a good record that showcases a band refining its formula, but not to the point where I felt it was needed in addition to the self-titled debut.
was pleasantly surprised by this one. very catchy!
Another great slice of poppy punk from The Undertones. It's not quite as arresting and urgent as the other one I had a few weeks back, but it's really listenable. The vocals are great and the drumming is noticeably on point and crisp. It also, and this is the second time on the Project I've said this about an album, has a tremendous cover of Under the Boardwalk on it. Given that it's the polar opposite of the Tom Tom Club, but still absolutely stinking, it's clearly a song made to be covered.
This is just a solid, bouncy time. The rhythms are simple, and it’s got that infectious energy that makes you want to move around the room. Hard to believe this came out decades ago because the production feels surprisingly crisp. It definitely appeals to the part of me that loves a good pop-punk hook. Nothing feels heavy or serious here. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - There Goes Norman - Hypnotised - Boys Will Be Boys - Wednesday Week
The Undertones would have been a great pop band in any era. The version we got, on this album, was powerpop infused with the sonic signifiers (and sometimes tropes) of new wave in its 1979-80 stage of development. The first track is rather odd (its chocolate-and-girls title self-deprecatorily mimicking the Talking Heads’ rather more weighty-sounding More Songs About Buildings and Food) in the way it’s almost nervous about whether this new album (produced “in less time but with more care” than their surprise hit first record) is all that good. They needn’t have worried as it’s mostly very good indeed. Some of the songs here are really superb pop songs, especially the lovely Wednesday Week, and Tearproof, as well as the hit single My Perfect Cousin. Others are filled with backstreets goofiness about guys called Norman and Terry and everyone’s often fruitless quests for girlfriends. It’s always charming and sometimes sublime. Feargal Sharkey brings one of the most distinctive voices in pop music and Damien O’Neill is a superb guitarist. It’s interesting that their cover of Under The Boardwalk (which could have just been a hurried second album space-filler) sounds so good - proving the point that these guys occupied the postpunk scene but were at heart brilliant pop performers. It has some 5-star tracks but isn’t uniformly strong. Nevertheless, a really good album.
I'd never heard of these guys until a week ago, and now I've gotten them twice in that time. Good album though, so I'm happy about that.
A fun and remarkably good Pop Punk album with a singer that interestingly sounds a lot like Rod Stewart. It might have been even better if the quality of the songs was consistent throughout the whole album, but roughly after a third of the tracklist, the quality dips from "great" to "just fine". Still, a worthwhile listen. 3.5/5
The first album I was given that I had never heard of before and I loved it! This is exactly my kind of late punk early post-punk/new wave shit. The Drifters cover especially stood out. Excited to explore this band more.
What if Dead Kennedy's decided to do nonsensical pop punk songs about chocolate, perfect cousins, and covers of Motown? Shockingly fun is the answer to that question.
I wasn’t sure what to expect jumping into this. The cover seemed very Revenge of the Nerds. I was pleasantly surprised! This was a good post-punk-pop album! I liked their teen angst that felt somewhere between Green Day and Vampire Weekend (…and probably influenced both). The cover of the Drifters Under the Boardwalk was a cool transition point in the album. First off, my dad loved that song and it played frequently on oldies radio so it was fun listening to their version which was more homage than reinvented cover. Second, it felt like it moved the album tone from punk to pop-rock with slower rhythms and melodic lyrical composure and “the Way Girls Talk” and “Hard Luck”. Then it was right back into punk again. Tearproof and Wednesday Week felt like ‘90s indie pop at its best. I am surprised I have never heard of this album before, except maybe in the post-punk era and rise of New Wave it disappeared in the noise. Shame. This deserved more credit! I may be over rating but….
Really enjoyed this, could be getting an artificial bump due to some of the bad stuff we have had recently. It was an enjoyable listen nonetheless. 3.5/5
I actually really liked it. Kinda cheeky and not very complex. But loved the chugging guitar, simplicity and attitude. 3.5 and rounding up because the album cover made me laugh.
More Songs About Chocolate and Girls - 3/5 There Goes Norman - 3/5 Hypnotised - 4/5 See That Girl - 3/5 Whizz Kids - 4/5 Under the Boardwalk - 5/5 The Way Girls Talk - 4/5 Hard Luck - 4/5 My Perfect Cousin - 4/5 Boys Will Be Boys - 5/5 Tearproof - 4/5 Wednesday Week - 3/5 Nine Times Out of Ten - 5/5 Girls That Don't Talk - 3/5 What's With Terry? - 4/5 Average score: 3.9/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dead Kennedys if they were a bunch of cheery irish lads? i'm not sure i love this yet, though it's growing on me after a couple listens. they sound like they had fun making this at the very least and that's pretty cool i agree the main singer's voice sounds kinda like Jello Biafra so maybe that's why i was able to see the redeeming qualities of this album. both groups formed/made music around the same time as each other so who knows if they had any influence on one another, if at all
I would put them alongside The Jam. Punky fun.
“The Troubles” was an epic understatement for a time of unemployment, random terrorism and military occupation. The Undertones stuck two fingers up at all of that and got on with writing more songs about chocolate and girls. Following up the best song about teenage angst ever written was always going to be a tall order but they come pretty close with the fifteen tracks on offer here. Heartfelt, funny, angry razor sharp lyrics combined with tight guitars and drums playing perfect punk. Completely relatable for anyone who was a spotty teenager worrying about their life. Subbuteo-tastic!
Very catchy guitar riffs. You know when you see 15 songs in 38 minutes you probably got a punk album. The music here raises it above a typical punk album, but the spirit is definitely there. Sounds like they may have had some fun making this album.
An album that got better the more I listened to. An album I could truly rock to 🤘
7/10
wise beyond their years - short snappy songs about chocolate and girls. joyous
Interesting….will take this for a spin again
Don’t think I have heard of them but this was a fun listen. Solid.
Classic
I was digging this, very clash-esque
Fun old school rock
A great time that starts out repetitive but shifts enough along the way that I stayed engaged throughout.
Poppier than I expected
I mean, pretty basic pop punk. The yodel singing was the only thing that keep this from a 5. 4/5
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I can’t say that every song was good, but the overall style was great and most of the songs had cool musical ideas in them that kept the album interesting.
I really enjoyed this but I couldn’t get over how, on a couple songs, the lead singer sounds exactly like the lead singer of a 90s Christian Ska band I used to listen to. There were fun groves and I definitely wasn’t expecting an Under the Boardwalk cover from an early punk band. I wouldn’t mind listening to this again or checking out more of their music.
Very fun!
Always cool to discover a new band through this project. This is the kind of punk I enjoy. Fun, catchy, borderline silly
Ok so the last time I got an album for The Undertones it was their debut album. Which I really liked and was interested in, but didn’t blow me away. This album was better than the last but definitely more of the same (in a good way). One of my biggest praises of their first album rings true with this album as well, namely being that the album is short, fast, and sweet. 15 songs at 38mins? That’s what we like to hear! Also I saved almost every song on the album where with the last one I think I only saved about half. Great album, definitely excited about maybe hearing more from them. Also small, side note, under the boardwalk is a great song and their cover is awesome!
I like it, some songs more than others, but overall I'd listen again.
Never heard of this before. Some of the vocals remind me of Dead Kennedys, that warble. I like the punky sound.
Fun and a little goofy. I was tapping my foot to the beat the whole time, but I do kind of feel like the wiki entry for this kind of oversold it
Fun and a unique sound. It’s also great when I am able to listen on vinyl.
It was good but we can't remember
Fun!
fun pop-punk
Was really surprised by this one. I would definitely listen to this again and I'm excited to hear more from the Undertones! Favorite track: Under The Boardwalk 3.5/5
Fun as hell
Great, fun punky new wave. I feel like it doesn’t take itself too seriously and just focuses on being energetic and kind of goofy which works really well. There were some variations in styles with some songs being quite pop-rocky and focusing on the generic themes of love and stuff, others being a bit more slow and booming (with the drums). The best though, in my opinion is where it is more punky and fast paced which is more in the first side, this will probably be reflected in my favourites. Favourites: There goes Norman, Hypnotised, see that girl, Tearproof and What’s with Terry. Overall, only just a 7/10.
I don't want to like it, but I sort of did. It felt like I was watching an old 90s comedy movie. Ultimately, there's a reason we haven't heard of them. Just eh.
'twas good. I like the white boy music that swung between excited and sad.
simpatico, mi è piaciuta molto la copertina dell’album. continuo ad arrotondare per eccesso con 4, ma non è un 4 pieno.
The subject matter is bog standard 80s teen fare, but the melody and lyrics are suprisingly good.
Solid, dependable rock and roll with just the right amount of both punk and pop sensibilities. 4/5
Never heard of that band or album before this and I love it.
Fun poppy new wave/punk. I like this album but it wasn't mindblowing or anything so a 4 seems appropriate. Funny that we heard two covers of "under the boardwalk" so close together.
Good surprise
7/10
I really enjoyed the Undertones first album and it was a nice surprise to find out about the band. I did not enjoy this one quite as much as their debut album, yet I still really enjoyed it. I am not sure about the album cover though. It's a lot of the same from their first album and definitely not in the bad way. I am not sure if More Songs about Chocolate and Girls is a reference to the Talking Heads second album or not, but if so, it's fairly clever. I do not think the album is as strong all the way through and that's probably a part of the "put an album out every year" business plan in the music industry back in 1980. I may have mentioned this in my prior review but I can see modern bands (again, especially Public Access TV) reflected in this music. More Songs about Chocolate and Girls Hypnotised See That Girl Under the Boardwalk The Way Girls Talk My Perfect Cousin Tearproof Wednesday Week Nine Times out of Ten
The Undertones are another fun discovery from this project. I’ve never heard of them, but I’m a fan now. Many of the tracks felt like songs I would hear in beloved 80s movies. Feargal Sharkey’s vocals are interesting, but his goatish vibrato toes a thin line between lovably quirky and utterly annoying. Sonically, I greatly enjoyed this album. I never knew I was such a fan of Irish punk!
This is something I never knew I needed, cool punk
love the Undertones
This is classic post-punk. At first I was like "it is OK." I grew up clubbing in New London Connecticut at the L&G Club watching post-punk bands. Lots of them are pretty good, some memorable, some Meh... But about half way through this album I realized that the Undertones are actually a cut above and are actually a REALLY GREAT post-punk band! Yesterday I lamented about how great musicians can fail by being redundant and eventually (sadly) become boring. Here I was "meh" at first, then "this is pretty good" and suddenly the album started coming together and I realized these guys are in the front room regarding post-punk old school goes. Damn, I wish they had played the L&G!
It was a really fun New Wave album. It reminded me a lot of The Knack's debut, same vibe. 4 stars.
I enjoyed this but it didn’t really stand out
Nice apparently not a single?! Hidden Gem!
I've never heard of the Undertones. Excited to hear what they are all about. Let's GO! This is pure pop punk perfection. Short little bursts of goodness. Plus a surprise Under The Boardwalk cover! I am loving this album so far. 4/5
Playful angst, tight musicianship a great album.
Good songs, good hooks, good vocal, good lyrics, good album. If John Peel loved them, then that's good enough for me. 3½
Fun album! Four stars.
Nine Times out of Ten is a song where the drummer does not touch a single cymbal. Feargal Sharkey's voice is as odd as his name. HIGH PRAISE for this throwback. Never heard it, and outside of Sabbath this is the album of the week. Another awesome UK punk album.
This is a pretty good punk album. Nothing revolutionary but it's good. I like their cover of Under the Boardwalk, and their songs in general are a lot of fun.
Fun little album, was very catchy and I listened to it several rimes. I can see how they influenced certain sections of the early 80s punk/new wave set.
Is The Undertones the missing link in the evolution from punk to pop?
Fantastic pop-punk album. The band are so tight, and you can appreciate each and every instrument on here, as the production seems to give them equal billing. Can’t for the life of me understand why a cover of ‘Under the Boardwalk’ is on here. It just doesn’t go! It doesn’t appear on my download of the album anyway.
I’m not from the uk and had never heard of these guys. But this is the kind of youthful exuberance that makes me smile and gets me moving. Very fun.
maybe a shortage of big classics (actual or Deserved), but on the whole rly difficult not to smile all the way through. hyper-melodic, good-natured (even if occasionally lyrically macabre), and extremely irish...just about no ambitions whatsoever beyond momentary amusement and bounces and its hard not to respect something so wholly adequate on its own terms! mostly im just thanking my lucky stars whenever an band on this list that i dont recognize isn't br*tish
Imagine finding this one in a record shop with no knowledge of who The Undertones were. You're taken aback by just how ridiculous the album cover is. Who are they kidding, you think. But curiosity gets the better of you and you decide to try it out, just for a laugh, to see what kind of people would make something that looks like this. Within moments, you're convinced: The awful album cover was absolutely intentional and these guys know how to have fun. "Hyponotised" is a serious improvement on The Undertones self-titled debut, marrying punk with some effortless pop hooks. Like much of the pop punk genre that would emerge later, the songs are all short and sweet. They're rough enough to appeal to teenage angst while being radio friendly enough to get some airplay (on college radio, if no where else). Before the template for this style was firmyl established (and copied to death), it was probably a tough balance to get. Despite the countless imitations of this style, this album holds up pretty well and is full of fast, catchy songs.
This was pretty good. Some very catchy riffs. A lot better than the other album of theirs that popped up on this list
God, variert og litt poppy punk.
I liked this one from the Undertones, pleasant punky stuff
Loved this. Never heard of this group before, but you can draw a straight line from their sound and style to bands like Less Than Jake and other pop/punk/ska of the 90s.
This is a fun album by a band I’m not familiar with. It could have been a song or two shorter because it does get slightly long near the end.
Early 80s new wave punk. Good fun. Bouncy, joyful and young.
Perfect punk
bellino 7/10
Never heard of them, which is insane, cause this is up my alley. Not serious, even though they're from Derry in the middle of the Troubles. Post punk, happy dumb shit. Loved it.
Decent punk album. I see influences of The Clash and Dead Kennedy's. You could certainly do worse.
Good singles, a lot of the other songs hold up surprisingly well too. Just falls short of being an all out classic but well worth a listen.
Dan ganas de romper ventanas en Inglaterra o de dónde sea que sean los vatos de The Undertones. 8/10
I liked it except the singer’s warble got to be too much
Godt lyt. Vender sikkert aldrig tilbage.. Coveret fik mig til at tænke på Beavis and Butthead.
Quick and to the pointless Lidt ligegyldigt (pop)punk i bedste Sex Pistols skabelon. Ubderholdende, men der stopper det også. Højdepunkt: Hard Luck
Love the punk submissions, even if they are a little more poppy than others.
Love it!
Sounds like the friendly little cousin of The Ramones and that's not a bad thing.
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would given that it’s New Wave.
Fun poopy punk. Singer’s voice is great. Great hooks and songs, possibly better than the debut. Will spend more time with.
My only real knowledge of The Undertones is that 'Teenage Kicks' was famously the late, great John Peel's favourite song. I'm always wary when it comes to bands that I know from their one great song. Is the rest of the album going to hold up? Highly unlikely, which is why they are known for the one great song. Thankfully this was not the case here. I thought this album was great. The bass is terrific, the tunes are regularly catchy and nod-along and it's got the right blend of humour without being overly wacky or not to be taken seriously. Kept it on my rotation for a number of days and I can see why Peel was so endeared to them.
I was not loving the start, but the album had a really solid finish.
Absolutely loved this one. Simplistic. Clean. Sounds like two guys having a blast. Reminds me of ramones or ween in that aspect. Will listen again and have already listened to more by them.
This was a really fun listen! Favourite Tracks: There Goes Norman, See That Girl
A fun, easy listen, which is refreshing coming straight after Trout Mask Replica. 3.5 rounding up to 4 to make up for all the ill-informed Americans whingeing about him ripping off Jello Biafra and them being one hit wonders 🙄
The last time my group got an album from The Undertones, I wrote exactly 37 words about it and gave 'em a 4. After listening to this, the group's second album, I am **very** tempted to do that again. Like a lot of albums my group has gotten recently, this isn't very complicated music. It's simply just very, **very** good 80's pop punk. I won't tell you it blew my mind, but I can very much imagine how for someone else this (or their last album) might be one of the best records of all time. Certainly, in the lane of bands like The Clash and Buzzcocks, they're up there. I will say, between these two albums, I think I've found myself preferring the first one. It's a bit faster and the guitars are a bit louder, and it's a bit more power pop, and of course that appeals to me, but in the end... Eh, it's honestly comparing apples and apples, I feel like. They're both excellent, with some great tunes and performances. And really, like I've been saying lately, you really hafta appreciate these simpler albums. I mean, heck, a good 4 outta 5 at that. Completely unpretentious music where you don't hafta think too hard about why you like it. It's just... Really good stuff. What more d'y'want me to say about it? Y'want me to comment on the cover that was taken at a Red Lobster? Nah. Just go give it a listen. That's really all y'need.
Classic pop punk, what else can I say? 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 4. Not much to say on this one, really; it’s just a straight improvement from their debut album. Perhaps it’s me being more attentive in the 377 days since we got the last Undertones album, but I just thought this clicked better. There’s improved songwriting, a more balanced showcase of all the instruments as opposed to just the guitar (which is still excellent by the way, but the percussion REALLY gets its shine here), some smoother vocal performances, & the variety of each track sticks out nicely because the album flows better. It’s weird to praise an album for being longer, but I think the extra time here gives each track more room to breathe, in a really fruitful way that makes the album experience feel more memorable. Are there still a few unnecessary tracks? Yeah, probably, and it’s partially why I’m at a 4. That said, there’s never a bad soundscape here, & this is a pretty breezy 35 minutes regardless. I liked it, what can I say? Just an easy listen, with some occasional standout melodic moments, and a good chunk of tracks that really clicked for me this time around. Hence, the 4.
This is a fun new wave album. (I don't view this as punk.) I know some of Feargal Sharkey's solo work, but I didn't know this. He has such a distinct voice.
This was a lot of fun!!
Somehow this sounds like The Sex Pistols, played slowly and with a ska vibe. And somehow, I like it?
Surprisingly fun, catchy songs. Technically punk, but sounds more like britpop/beachy 70s pop (a couple songs would fit in the movie Grease, or at a water park).
When this came up I went back and relistened to the other Undertones album I was generated. This band is just really fun. They aren’t too serious, but I don’t think they are trying to be. This album is basically another batch of the same stuff, but who’s going to complain about a second cake. Favorite songs were There Goes Norman, Whizz Kids, Tearproof, and Wednesday Week.
I really liked the engergy of this album. I liked the slight punk influences and the quirkyness. 4 stars.
So much 80s!
I don't recall much chocolate but certainly plenty of teenage angst and girls. A good fun album and I still have the self-titled album in my todo list so it'll be interesting to see what that's like. Fave: More Songs About Chocolate And Girls and any one of the others could easily take the crown.
Huh - I reviewed The Undertones self titled album in Jul 2021 and acknowledged that it was well done pop punk, but pop punk didn't do much for me. I have changed in the intervening years! Quite like a bit of pop punk nowadays, and have added a "pop punk" tag to my personal library. I'd go 4.5 on this one if I could. I need to give their self titled a listen again, too, to see how it strikes me now! "Hypnotised" is great fun - I dig Feargal Sharkey's voice here - it's like 0.5 Jello Biafras with a norn iron accent, good stuff! All the teenage stuff in their lyrics - looking it up, they were in their very early 20s when this came out, and now that I'm middle aged that makes them basically teenagers, so whatever. Fave tracks - "More Songs About Chocolate and Girls", "Under the Boardwalk" (it's a fun cover!), "My Perfect Cousin"
I liked this one. No incredible songs but overall fun vibe and nice tracks. 3.5/4
Very fun album, very catchy songs and grooves. First song kinda lies, lots of songs about girls, not enough chocolate, overall pretty good.
Listening to this reminds me why I listened exclusively to The Undertones for about a year when I was 14. All time teenage classics, with My Perfect Cousin as the stand out track.
It's a bit Clash-like, and the vocals are a watered down Dead Kennedys. I kinda liked it though. The lyrics are interesting stories. I don't know if there is a deeper meaning with them or not. I liked the cover of Under the Boardwalk.
À la fois new wave et punk; j’ai été surprise que ça date de 1980, j’aurais cru que ça datait de plus tard dans la décennie
I do like University Challenge though.
A little pop punk 80’s garage band-y
I've listened to a few Undertones songs before, but never a full album. This was exactly what I expected, a tight collection of fun pop-punk jams.
Favorite Track: My Favorite Cousin
Good, simple.
I know I’ve heard a few Undertones albums at this point. I think I’ve generally enjoyed the ones I’ve heard, but today’s seemed a cut above the others. I really enjoyed this from front to back, with the main highlights being There Goes Norman and My Perfect Cousin. I like how they write good catchy songs, but also don’t mind getting a bit silly with things at times (who’d have thought that, with them having such a serious album cover?). I’m glad to have expanded my Undertones palette today.
This record feels like it was way ahead of its time. This feels like relatively modern pop punk and emo, which is shocking for a record that came out in 1980. I'd never heard of this band before but it's encouraging me to keep going with the 1001 albums. This is exactly the kind of record I was hoping to find.
I thought I’d never heard of this band, but their sound was familiar. I then realized they’re the ones that did Teenage Kicks and it all made sense. I like this album a lot. There’s a cheekiness to some of the songs (like My Perfect Cousin) and a sweet melancholy in others (Wednesday Week). Each song is distinct but still has their signature sounds, which makes it an enjoyable and dynamic listen. Some great guitar riffs make it fun and danceable. The vibe is almost “I’d be rebellious if I could be bothered”. I’m sure I’ll be listening to this again.
I enjoyed it. A lot of the songs sounded the same to me, but that didn't hold it back. Fun laid-back 80's pop/rock
4 - captures the whimsy of 80s rock. Kinda surface level and easy to listen to, but hardly anything to hate
It’s alright! Again punk is not my thing,
Fun!
Inaspettatamente bello
Never heard of this band before, but they had a fun, distinct sound that was a mix of garage band and pop band that made the album an enjoyable listening experience.
Here’s another UK group I never heard of. This album was a pleasant surprise for me. The lyrics are pretty basic, but I thought the variety of music was good. Under the Boardwalk is a cover of the Drifters song.
They had John Peel's approval. Pretty much all you need to know really.
More Songs About Chocolate and Girls 3.6 There Goes Norman 3.7 Hypnotised 3.7 See That Girl 3.4 Whizz Kids 3.5 Under the Boardwalk 3.8 The Way Girls Talk 3.7 Hard Luck 3.5 My Perfect Cousin 3.4 Boys Will Be Boys 3.6 Tearproof 3.4 Wednesday Week 3.6 Nine Times Out of Ten 3.3 Girls That Don't Talk 3.6 What's With Terry? 3.5 Score: 3.553333333
new to me and I liked it
Absolutely loved this album from start to finish. Great intro to the band and palatable punk-rock album for those just getting into it .
I kinda wanted to like this better, it's a lot of fun, I'd lands as kind link between Glam and Glam metal... Glam punk if you will. But it still didn't 100 bowl me over. 7.8 ★★★½
Sounds like The Beach Boys playing punk - which I'm not mad about. There's a lot of variety to the songs, including insertions of accoustic guitars and organ. Also, nice bass sound.
New band new music for me. Really enjoyed the energy.
I enjoyed it, I always saw them as a punk band but this is more poppy and varied.
Nice. Better than expected with this bad cover.
I'm always down for a good time, and this is short, sweet, and fucks.
Fun album, good guitar riffs and punchy songs that don't faff about. Like Fergal's vocals on this too, some very catchy hooks which give it quite a pop-punk feel. A bit short of a 5* album for me because it's not super deep or ground breaking really, but definitely worth a spin
I listened a few days ago I think I liked it I really like the album cover so 5
This didn’t feel like the other punk albums on this list. There was a little more to it and it felt like more effort went into it. A nice listen, though they were all very clearly about the same thing.
Weird ass album cover. But honestly the songs so far aren’t bad If anything, pretty good. Not the best but this album took me by surprise
I have to admit that seeing another band that I've never heard of with a very British looking cover, I wasn't expecting much from this. Turns out this is a fun, pop punk record. It wasn't until Under the Boardwalk that I thought to myself that the singers voice sounded familiar. After a bit of google sleuthing I discovered that the singer is Feargal Sharkey, the "A Good Heart" and "You Little Thief" guy.
great album
I have never heard of these guys before and though the album was great.
fun, early pop-punk that still bops today.
12/10/24 This was better than expected.
Got pretty interesting towards the end bust mostly still just the standard punk affair, it's decently enjoyable
I had a real blast with this. It feels like a 4/5
No "Teenage Kicks" in this one, but plenty of punk hits with pop overtones about the working class that are both wry and endearing, and can even be tender at times. I'm not gonna list the songs. I'm late for work this morning, and those great songs make up two thirds of this album anyway. As usual with The Undertones, the only minor issue is the relative lack of variety, but if some folks don't reproach the Ramones with this, why should they do that with the songwriters and performers on *Hypnotised*, huh? 4/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 9/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4) Number of albums left to review: 44 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 412 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 240 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 306
Really good energetic
Never heard of them. At least the music sounds good and the voices are singing not yelling nor rapping.
Straightforward early brit punk.
Fun! 4
Oh yeah, I like this. Even though their big hit isn't on here, they're still quirky and keep me entertained. The vocal stylings sorta remind me of The Buzzcocks - it's that's silly snarky attitude. 4 stars.
Very much sounded like Buzzcocks. Great listen tough. Will definitely seek more from them.
Fairly enjoyable romp. It would not be painful to listen to it again. However I dunno why this is on the list when there is a lot of Clash copies, and this doesn't stand out in any meaningful way. :shrug:
Just the kick in the nuts I needed to wake up this morning
Funny, bouncy new wave. I give this a weak four, it has room to grow on me, but I don't find it as endearing as other key works in the genre. That said, they definitely carve out a unique style, especially vocally, but their guitar work is also kinda punchy, and it generally works.
Extremely charming pop-punk that works best when it's angsty and less so when it's about GIRLS!
The angsty punk vs. girls girls girls balance in the songwriting is a bit off, but it’s a really fun listen nonetheless. It sounds like it’s just a bunch of friends in a garage shouting the backing vocals into a single mic - as it should be.
Better than expected. What a voice.
It’s pretty damn good. A bit like if the Dead Kennedys made pop punk.
Great
Light, breezy and no skips for your summer adventure back to 1980.
Surprisingly good. Based on the album cover, I didn't expect much, but this reminds me of The Buzzcocks. Kinda like new wave, or early pop punk. It's feel good punk music. Favourite songs: Whizz Kids, There Goes Norman, More Songs About Chocolate and Girls, Girls That Don't Talk, What's With Terry, Under the Boardwalk, Hard Luck, My Perfect Cousin, Boys Will Be Boys Least favourite songs: See That Girl 4/5
I don’t know why I don’t know this band. I definitely should. Loved this album and spent the rest of the day listening to REM and The Specials. Super fun. Will listen again.
Enjoyable, with good instrumentation, singing, and lyrics. The definition of ‘pretty good’.
Proto-pop-punk ala The Buzzcocks. Similar vocal stylings as well, with plenty of vibrato. Kind of juvenile, but the band at least seems self-aware (as the into track "More Songs About Chocolate and Girls" would lead to you believe). Solid, maybe a little long. Favorite tracks: "There Goes Norman", "Hard Luck", "Nine Times Out of Ten"
I was bound to like this. I've liked The Undertones since I was 10 or 11. My mates liked them too, we all played subutteo, and I've got a cousin called Kevin!! They were fun and sharp, with their wit and guitars. I only had a singles tape and never got to see them live (too young) but did see That Petrol Emotion who were a great spin off with the O'Neill brothers and their brilliant guitars. It's typical Undertones; joyous, catchy, punk influenced pop. Lots of favourites but 'Tearproof', 'Wednesday Week' and the unexpected cover of 'Under The Boardwalk' stood out today. And of course 'My Perfect Cousin', a classic :)
Faultless, fun punk pop. Thankfully not taking itself seriously in the process.
Nice follow up to the classic first release. It shows development from the self-named previous album but that one is a classic teen-angst release. In this case, musical development is not necessarily good.
p464. 1980. 4 stars. Prototype Green Day. Short, sweet and wonderful punk-pop hybrid, let down by filler and a totally redundant cover. When it's good it's terrific.
The second Undertones album...and another banger. How had I never heard of this band before? Dug it. 4/5
It’s old but kind of my jam
06/20/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 There Goes Norman Wednesday Week B Tier—————————3 Under The Boardwalk Hypnotised See That Girl More Songs About Chocolate and Girls The Way Girls Talk Girls That Don’t Talk What’s With Terry Whizz Kids Tearproof Nine Times Out of Ten C Tier—————————2 Boys Will Be Boys Hard Luck My Perfect Cousin D Tier—————————1 Should be a 3.5. Better than most of the 80s British punk crap
15 short silly songs that all blend together into something really fun.
Gives me kind of an indie sound but also reminds me of old 60s rock bands with the simplicity. I liked it.
More like a 3.5, but this was a pretty entertaining album
I liked this a lot. Songs were catchy and I ended up listening through the album twice. Favorite tracks were There Goes Norman and I Told You So (also enjoyed their cover of Under the Boardwalk).
Never heard of this band. It’s delightfully weird so far. This seems so weird, but just keeps getting better
Derry boys go hard
Old tree bird fishlock is in great voice here. This is a really great album. It evaded me at the time but I would have been all over this on release.
My perfect cousin está guay
Undertones acing the difficult second album effortlessly. A few more sixties influences, an inessential cover and the snap and bite of a top guitar band. The songwriting stands up really well, it is difficult to make songs that sound so simple, yet so complete. 4.25.
Not a pop-punk guy by any means, but this was way better than than 90% of the albums that aren't really something I NEED to hear. Enjoyable.
the lead singer Feargal Sharkey sounds so much like Brian Ferry of Roxy Music, I was tripping. I enjoyed it, although it got a wee bit repetitive. Liked “The Way Girls Talk” although I hope its satirical.
Mindless fun. I liked their other album on this list better but this one wasn't bad either. Definitely don't need two albums here but I'm not sure which one deserves it more.
It was punk but with some of the rough edges sanded off. Was decent enough to listen to.
Enjoyed this a ton, but it was a bit too samey for a 5/5. Easy 4 though
This verges on five territory but never quiet gets there. I reckon you could draw a pretty clean line from them to AMs first album though - very similar energy, lyrical themes etc.
skemmtilegt tyggjópönk.
I like what I like, and I like stupid but strangely introspective pop-punk bands. I’m more surprised that I like it done by these Mad Lads, because often UK-isms prove to be a barrier for me, but I guess my love for pop punk clearly supersedes everything else. Not like this is flawless, life-changing, or even essential, arguably. But what pop punk album is?
This is a new album for me. It’s great! I love this bold and upbeat sounds. I keep bopping as I listen to it even though I’m in public. Nice cover of The Beach Boys. Also Boys Will Be Boys reminded me of Blur’s song?
Nice sounding album
songs about chocolate and girls isch fuunny. there goes norman mann er gangt afoch. hypnotised au cool. see that girl isch easy tight und s vibrato im gsang isch recht geil. ui akustischi gitarre solo. under the boardwalk isch en riese banger und isch e geils cover findi. sie nemed sich null ernst. perfect cousin hetmer gfalle langsam chumi uf de gschmack. nine times out of ten cooli vibrato gitarre. und B-Teil sehr cool. GIRLS THAT DONT TALK riese banger whats with terry sehr funny. sie funny. hard luck afoch es groovy instrumental. i dint wanna see you again isch huere churz rockabilly time fangt ah und isch gad wieder fertig. hahahah youre such a stupid cow oke fertig. ah das sind eh bonustracks byebye. äh vieri
oke es isch recht punkig oke reltaiv churzi lieder mit vill hooks und mengisch grossem fokus uf rhythmus no cool dass wednesday week mal chli en andere vibe het, also nöd jur chli funny sondern chli seriöser würkt? allgemein chli hüfig "guuuuurls", vlt het de sean paul mitgsunge? d hindergrund gsäng erinneret mich mengisch ad ramones ja mengisch chli sehr silly aber han e huere gueti ziit gha und ich liebs albumcover hahahaha
I like Irish Punk(s) music. I had forgotten this band, glad it popped up today I’m going to enjoy them all over again and hopefully not forget them all over again.
This album is a good example of UK punk with a very obvious rockabilly and surf rock influence. The melodies here are memorable and the bass work particularly stands out. It was interesting to hear moments that lean into pop and predict the rise of pop punk in the 90s. I'm not sure how groundbreaking this album is, but it is a good entry into the history of punk.
pretty standard old school punk, nothing too flashy or crazy but a lot of solid riffs and fun lyrics. some songs may be a little too basic
Great record and and love the fact that although there are a lot of songs , they are of the perfect length and very precise
Not bad for Irish white men rock, but not the most outstanding album. Favourites: more songs about chocolate and girls, there goes norman, hard luck (again) - B-side version, I told you so. 4/5
Kind of just a bunch of fun and silly songs and lots of singing about girls on this one. Also My Perfect Cousin is so real. Favourites are There Goes Norman, See That Girl, and Under The Boardwalk. I'm a big fun enjoyer so here's another 4