Script Of The Bridge

Though I understand this is a gothic rock classic, I do not like this album. It has a specific 80's vibe that makes all my alarm bells ring. It sounds like a band that takes itself much and much too serious and the production is overdramatic.

This was really cool. Surprised I'd never heard it before. It's gloomy and the production really suits. This is going into regular rotation for sure. 5/5.

Some great post-punk on this LP, a bit longer than it needed to be but I was just happy to hear some spacey, droning guitar drenched in chorus again. For how Brit-centric the original 1001 is I was surprised at the relative lack of solid post-punk, so thank you for rectifying the issue here with a stellar add

Superclassic UK album from the 80s: 10/10. Should have been included in the oiginal list. Had thought about selecting this album myself and am glad someone else did.

Repping the cult classics 💪 You can still hear a lot of this in current alt/indie bands of the internet

I have discovered this record not so long ago so I'm pleased to see its cover pop up today. I can already hear people complaining there were already too many eighties British post-punk albums in the original list, even before reading the reviews... And I guess this new suggestion won't make them change their minds that easily. Sure, the 1001 Albums book is slightly anglo-centric... But as I said to my 1001 album generator chum Émile the other day, that perception might *also* stem from a statistical North American bias against that particular music style (many users are from there, aren't they?). A perception which is somewhat challenged by the ripples of the the current European crank-wave finally crossing the Atlantic these days... In many ways, The Chameleons circa *Script Of The Bridge* are part of that group of original progenitors of a rock idiom which is still relevant today, influencing many prominent acts on both sides of the pond, from Interpol in the early noughts to Fontaines D.C in 2025. (not to mention a bunch of slightly less known acts behind the latter: Deeper, Preoccupations, The Murder Capital...). So it feels like not including this album in the original list is overlooking the extent of that later influence, English bias or not. Maybe a way to counter British overexposure in the list would be to cross out one minor Elvis Costello entry in there and trade it for this record? Would that make our North American friends more open to the inclusion? Of course, you'd first need to convince them this album is not a run-of-the-mill exercise in that style -- which is not so obvious for untrained ears, I readily admit it. What The Chameleons have going for them in this LP is an ear for delicate flourishes and romantic overtones (which will eventually lead them to switch to slightly more dream-pop tones for their third LP *Strange Time*). *Script Of The Bridge* sounds less cold and robotic than Joy Division, less gothic and desperate than the famous "trilogy" of albums The Cure released in the same time period, less tortured and stylistically adventurous that the classic LPs of The Sound... But what the English band lose here, they gain it tenfold through a prophetic channelling of the post-punk agenda into more poised and accessible results. In a sense, they are wearing their hearts on their sleeves in this record. Add the infectious guitar hooks also announcing The Jesus and Mary Chain a couple of years later (example: opener "Don't Fall"), along with the memorable lines sung by Mark Burgess, and you have a formula which stands the test of time rather gracefully. Interestingly, the album's artwork reflects its musical contents quite perfectly. Its turquoise watercolor canvas looks bland at first, but when you focus on the details of that cover, the latter suggests a rather precise story of hope and longing, a need to escape your daily woes towards a dream world. Likewise, you need to bypass the rather flat and unobtrusive production values of this LP to truly appreciate the flavors of the music -- the subtle touches of those synth lines could have been made clearer, for instance. But for me, it takes little effort to adjust my eyes and ears to the actual artistry displayed here... I understand it's not so easy for non-fans of the genre, though. As many reviewers noted here, the first side is stronger that the second ("Thursday's Child", with its meandering vocal lines and slightly out-of-tune guitars, could have been easily left on the cutting room floor without hurting the tracklist a bit). Let's face it, though: 90% of rock albums out there have the same flaw, don't they? And the quite perfect run of tracks "Monkeyland" - "Second Skin" - "Up The Down Escalator" - "Less Than Human" on the first side easily redeems that flaw. Cautiously taking out one point and a half to my grading so as to not make non-fans of the genre roll their eyes too much, but honestly, I can see myself going back and edit my review in the future to include this record in my highest-rated gallery, if I get even more familiar with this record. We'll see if that's part of the script for, and if it is, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes (4.5 + 4) Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ----- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 43 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 53 (including this one). Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 101 --- Émile: voir ma toute dernière réponse sous le disque *Triage* au-dessus.

The first track from The Chameleons I heard was "Nostalgia" from their album "What Does Anything Mean?" which lead me to this album straight after. "Less Than Human" and "Second Skin" are bangers, remind of me The Cure. I can almost hear Robert singing them. "Monkeyland" is one of my favourites There's variety and mood changes throughout. The Cure meets The Smiths. Magnificent album.

Rating: 10/10

Dramatic and moody in all the right ways… I loved it! Goth with a beat I can dance to… I’m in!

It would be easy to ask why The Cure got so big when these guys didn't. It'd be easier to answer - because The Cure were better. But to be in the same thought as The Cure means you're pretty damn good.

I got it just after an album by "The Sound". This one is better, but I'm tired. In another day, I can try it again, but today I'm annoyed by 80s goth guys.

Yes this is right up my street, gothic and moody, but also danceable. Reminds me a bit of the editors and white lies.

Never had heard em before. Dug this album

Ok enough for 1 listen

I didn't despise it or anything, but it felt like pretty run of the mill British alternative pop of a certain era. The vocalist was not strong.

A pretty solid 80s album that blends heavy guitar usage with a grungy vocal sound that was pretty ahead of its time. First time ever listening to this band and it was quite good. They had that same atmospheric sound as the cure but with more rock lyricism. It was a good blend overall of 80s genres and is probably a bit overlooked. 7.0/10

I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. It's an interesting combination of echoing music and early 80s oddities.

Kinda underwhelming

Idk I liked it! I got SOOOO sick of this post-punk UK new wave shit on the original list because it felt like every other album for like 3 years. But maybe the combination of becoming a connoisseur of the genre (against my will) and then taking a bit of a pause from it made me appreciate this more. It sounds a lot like The Smiths and The Cure, in a good way. My biggest complaint is that it goes on way too long for what it is. I feel like they get their point across in about 30 minutes and then there's nearly another 30 to go.

So...the Cure? It's fine but boy is it familiar.

This is fantastic. Rich, moody sound that never gets overwrought or dirgeful. The album loses steam a bit on the back half, but recovers nicely on the final track for a lovely finish. Fave Songs: Second Skin, View from a Hill, Don't Fall, Less Than Human, Up the Down Escalator, Here Today

Got into this album quite a few years back and enjoyed it then. Sounded dated today so only a 3 star.

Post-punk, gothic rock. Me ha aburrido. Un 2.

The not-requested return of UK post punk to the list leans into the Cure and Joy Division and eventually goes too long for this reviewer

A bit uneventful

Holy 80s, Script Of The Bridge ticks all of those sound cliches from that era, which I don't really like, but this is hugely atmospheric for what it is, and conveys a gloomy misery throughout. Second Skin was a good song, only 2/5 because it ain't for me, and sounds too much like loads of other acts, but it's fairly well put together at least.

Post-punk, gothic rock. Me ha aburrido. Un 2.

I had no recollection of this album 3 days after listening. So not a keeper.

This list has somehow made me less open to new music 1