Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

One of the most interesting additions to the new wave canon. Dexys blend the style of punky new wave that was popular in the UK with 60s/70s American black soul and a hint of old mod music, the end result is a very fun and danceable album. It may not have a standout hit like Too Rye Aye (although I guess Geno could count), but makes up for it with consistency.

Shout out to Seven Days Too Long, white British artists covering an old American soul song is always a risky move, but I think this version fits with the album well, and is also an improvement on the original.

I know these blokes are on the list multiple times and all I’m gonna say is I will be outraged if Hall and Oates don’t make an appearance. This album is fine. I only knew this band from Come On Eileen. Favorites were Tell Me When My Light Turns Green, Geno, and Seven Days Too Long.

It's like the predecessor or missing link between the British invasion and Ska. These vocals are all over the place, melodramatic and loopy. Musically it's not bad, but I'm just not feeling this incomprehensible impression of The Talking Heads. But then again, them horns are pretty dope in Tell Me When My Light Turns Green.

Slightly better than Don't Stand Me Down. More upbeat instrumentals on this one. The instrumental parts weren't bad! Sadly the 'singing' and wailing if we can call it that is still tragic

3 ⭐️

Opens up with a banger! So immediately it's not at all what I expected from a band whose only song I know is Come On Eileen. This is solid post-punk with a soul influence. The horns give off a ska feel even without always following the off-beat. Not going to lie, I REALLY don't miss the banjo and fiddle I was expecting to have to endure. I don't know what happened to this band between here and there, but it's damn shame because this whole album rocks!

I absolutely hate that singer. Second album from them on the list so far, and the overwhelming feeling listening to both is that the band is great, but the singer and his affectations ruin everything.

Why does he sing like that? It’s so annoying

Wow I actually like this one a lot more than the others on here. The brass really adds a lot. Still has a couple I'm not as into but overall this is much more entertaining.

Thought this would be more punk. But all I got was this new wave..

Five stars because:
1) It doesn't include "Come On Eileen"
2) "Geno" is great

I don't understand the appeal. I think something is lost in translation as it goes across the atlantic. No matter how many times I hear he is a genius will convince me that this is good.

December 25, 2024

Thanks, Santa- I’ve already got two of these though…

-The vocals in “I’m Just Looking” are strange even for Kevin Rowland

-Generally the more upbeat tunes work the best, but “I couldn’t help it if I tried” is a ballad that stands out

-“Seven Days Too Long” is a neat cover version

-I could wax poetic on the insanity of including 3 Dexys on the list, as others have; it would only delay me admitting I really like the sound of this record. Sometimes all I need is a peppy horn section and I’m sold :)

HL: “Light Turns Green”, “I Couldn’t Help It”, “Geno”, “There There My Dear”

2.9

Enjoyable high energy album. I heard it a couple of days ago so the details are a blur but I liked it.

Ska, soul & pub rock. Fun horns, uptempo bass and lively drums, pretty crappy if animated charismatic thin nasal lead vocals fleshed out with some backing singers. High energy but easy going. More interesting as an artifact of a place/time in UK pop culture than as an album I want to listen to.

The album your high school friends’ ska band would have made circa 1996-2000.

the trend of me mostly disliking new wave continues

Underrated artists.....

I was shocked that a second album by Dexys Midnight Runners was on this list. And yet PUSA isn’t?!

Anyway, I actually like this more than the last one, but not by much.

All around a good album with a bit of a ska twist. Not my favorite, but the vocals and instrumentals were a bit sticky and it was a unique listen. 3/5