Pelican West

Британська квота, але мені цей задорний фанковий джангловий нювейв чомусь зайшов в настрій. Поставив 3.5 на рум, але тут все ж буде 3.

There’s so much funky sexy sax on this album. How can you not have a fun time?

the amount of times "britpop" is mentioned in these reviews makes me want to cry. really nice album though, feels appropriate during this heatwave

3.6/5

Positive vibes and great musicianship on all instruments. The brass instruments and percussion elements were especially nice.

However, what this album lacks is variety. I grew tired of the sound on the back half.
Funnily enough, right there in the track "Love's Got Me In Triangles" the German speakers among us very clearly hear a "Scheiße, mir wird langweilig" at 2:40... coincidence? I think not 🥸

3/5 - good

fun

Decent enough fast paced pop. I likely won't revisit this one though. Favorite track: Love Plus One

Didn’t love it then, though I have a bit more appreciation now for the percussive jazziness that underpins their sound.

Very fun to be honest, funky and groovy. Also the song names, as well as the band and album name are fun and different. It was nice.

This album (or more honestly the singles from it) bring back a lot of memories of the hot summer of 1982 stacking hay after my A'levels. And the endless singing of "Maje meets dog - woof!" To Favourite Shirts for weeks at school after a notorious 6th Form dance. (I'm genuinely so sorry, Paul).

You had to be there. No you really did.

Lovely to see it pop up on a glorious hot Spring Bank holiday. Takes me right back.

Didn't influence anything? It fucking influenced me!
4

(ps. It jjust so happens that my first grandson was born today. So it's a Fantastic Day)
5

I will not include the bonus tracks from the 1992 Plus reissue in this review.

When I first noticed Haircut 100 pop up on my radar for today's record, I figured this was going to be another 1980s new wave band that had one landmark record before something happened that caused their momentum to peter out. That certainly was the case for the longest time here, as vocalist and main songwriter Nick Heyward was dismissed from the group after struggling with stress and depression from a year of constant work and pressure. The band's follow-up record, Paint and Paint, was a commercial failure, and they split up soon after. But now, after multiple attempts at reunions with Nick, Haircut 100 are set to release their third album later this year. This sort of comeback had me curious if their debut, Pelican West, held up.

I will say that this album very much epitomizes the year 1982. The choppy, angular guitar riffs, Phil Smith's breezy saxophone playing, Marc Fox's laidback percussion work, and Nick's sultry vocal delivery. Pelican West as a whole boasts this tropical sophisti-pop feel, complete with brass embellishments and light incorporation of congas. Obviously, it's all cheesy and dated, right down to Nick's kooky, doe-eyed musings on life, love, and relationships in the lyrics. But I'll admit that I have a soft spot for this kind of cheesy music, and I can't deny how complex and bouncy the instrumentation can get on this record. Nick Heyward definitely has that fundamental understanding of pop sensibilities, and the rest of the band were willing to follow his direction.

In that regard, I consider Pelican West to be a solid debut. It's definitely got me curious how Haircut 100 is going to follow up over 40 years later.

Decently fun, but an unusually milquetoast inclusion for a book called 1001 albums you must hear before you die? Not sure I agree with it but I'm not mad! I stand by giving most things a chance at least once, and I'm definitely not an anti-pop snob (quite the opposite in fact). However, the pop has to catch me in some way and this album didn't have that clinching factor. It also runs unnecessarily long, and the songs started to blend together past the mid-way point :(

This was excellent! It's funky, vibey, poppy, and new wave all in one. Solid songwriting, excellent playing from the band, and groovy throughout. I love receiving albums from artists I've never heard of—that is, in my mind, the point of this project.

Now for the bad: the fucking whiners on this damn website. If colonial Americans from the late 1700s somehow gained access to this website, I think they STILL would have a higher opinion of the British than the average reviewer here.

(Btw, this is NOT Britpop. I can't believe the highest rated review says it is. It's off by roughly a decade.)

Wasn’t really sure what to expect from this one. But I was pleasantly surprised. Jangly guitars, ska influences and good songs. I have vague memories of hearing ‘Love Plus One’ way back in the 80s as a kid, but there is other good stuff here too - Favourite Shirts, Lemon Firebrigade, Kingsize, Snow Girl are all great tracks, and worth a second listen.

Solid

3.5 nice discovery for me

Annoying

If you think New Wave is a good time and 80s themed parties are your jam, this is essential listening. Everyone else will probably be just fine not hearing this album before they die.

Welp.. Another generic new wave album..

YABA!
(Yet Another Brit(pop) Album)

I was ready to shit on this, but more enjoyable than expected. Like elevator/cruise background music. Does it merit being on this list though? 4*, enjoyed it quite a bit.
Marine boy felt like Pinball wizard was about to come on.

Sometimes I wonder who gave the authors of this book the authority to pick these albums. Maybe 1001 was too big a number -- after you've done the obvious ones, there's gotta be filler.