Resounding thumbs-up from me on this one.
from the opening post. I think 'unengaging' is unfair. Theres a lovely warm feel to this album. It doesn't feel typically 1983 to me. What was the big thing in 1983? New-wave? Men At Work? The theme tune from ET?
I'm trying to remember back to then actually. I was 9 years old in 1983. I don't think a 9-year old is instantly going to take to 'The The'. Being 'warm' and 'pleasant' probably won't have 9-year old me reaching for this ahead of the other, very limited set of, music I had available to me.
In 1983 music discovery happened for me in 2 ways;
1: Kasey Kasem's America's Top 20. I can't remember what day this was on but myself and my brother would tape every song and spend the week listening to them. The following week we'd use the same tape to tape the follow week's chart.
I don't ever rememeber The The featuring.
2: MT USA. My memories of this are little blurred but I do remember it being on in the house every sunday afternoon. Or, the odd sunday when we'd go to the rellies, we'd insist it be on in their house too.
Again, nothing The The related.
So this album completely passed me by until the late 1990s. At that point I probably only still knew that one 'big hit' they had - 'The Beaten Generation', and I don't ever remember especially liking it.
Though, 5 and 6 minute-long songs - I can't imagine many radio stations would be queueing up to play them back in 1983.
It seems theres a whole world of Matt Johnson that awaits me, which is no bad thing.
Returning to that 'engaging' comment. I guess that refers to the songs not being instantly catchy. I'm about 7 or 8 listens in now and I'm at at stage where I recognise songs when I hear them, but not much sticks beyond that. But I know full well that in time I'll start loving them.
The production quality is great. I don't know if the reason it sounds so fresh is because its remastered, or whether it originally sounded this good.
His voice is something I'd have an issue with at different points. When he strays towards falsetto it kind of grates. But when he doesn't its fantastic. Very reminiscent of Lloyd Cole, with less whinging.
I'd give it 7/10 based on my experience of it of it so far. I know I'm going to end up liking it more and more, so will go 4/5. Great stuff.
On The The's first album, Matt Johnson crafted a pleasant but unengaging set of dance-pop
from the opening post. I think 'unengaging' is unfair. Theres a lovely warm feel to this album. It doesn't feel typically 1983 to me. What was the big thing in 1983? New-wave? Men At Work? The theme tune from ET?
I'm trying to remember back to then actually. I was 9 years old in 1983. I don't think a 9-year old is instantly going to take to 'The The'. Being 'warm' and 'pleasant' probably won't have 9-year old me reaching for this ahead of the other, very limited set of, music I had available to me.
In 1983 music discovery happened for me in 2 ways;
1: Kasey Kasem's America's Top 20. I can't remember what day this was on but myself and my brother would tape every song and spend the week listening to them. The following week we'd use the same tape to tape the follow week's chart.
I don't ever rememeber The The featuring.
2: MT USA. My memories of this are little blurred but I do remember it being on in the house every sunday afternoon. Or, the odd sunday when we'd go to the rellies, we'd insist it be on in their house too.
Again, nothing The The related.
So this album completely passed me by until the late 1990s. At that point I probably only still knew that one 'big hit' they had - 'The Beaten Generation', and I don't ever remember especially liking it.
Though, 5 and 6 minute-long songs - I can't imagine many radio stations would be queueing up to play them back in 1983.
It seems theres a whole world of Matt Johnson that awaits me, which is no bad thing.
Returning to that 'engaging' comment. I guess that refers to the songs not being instantly catchy. I'm about 7 or 8 listens in now and I'm at at stage where I recognise songs when I hear them, but not much sticks beyond that. But I know full well that in time I'll start loving them.
The production quality is great. I don't know if the reason it sounds so fresh is because its remastered, or whether it originally sounded this good.
His voice is something I'd have an issue with at different points. When he strays towards falsetto it kind of grates. But when he doesn't its fantastic. Very reminiscent of Lloyd Cole, with less whinging.
I'd give it 7/10 based on my experience of it of it so far. I know I'm going to end up liking it more and more, so will go 4/5. Great stuff.