Rate Albums

Reviews by bindamusic

DareThe Human League

10/10

One of the best pop albums of the 80s. Bought it when it came out in 1981 and have loved it ever since.

So many great tracks it's hard to pick favourites, but I will....Love Action and Do or Die are both absolutely perfect. Not a dud on this album.

And of course it contains Don't You Want Me as well....an 80s anthem.

Nigh on perfect. The companion remix album Love and Dancing is worth a listen also....that basically invented the remix album genre.

Sadly they never really scaled the same heights again, but it was wonderful while it lasted.

5 all day.

Rage Against the MachineRage Against the Machine

10/10

Well that livened up an early start on a Monday!

Epic album. Demands to be cranked up as loud as you can.

I almost consider this to be hard funk at times as it’s got such a groove.

And has the best Christmas Number 1 of all time on it!

Can’t fault this. 5

JustifiedJustin Timberlake

4/10

Good, but far from great. It’s not a great candidate for this list really. Nothing original going on here, but some catchy tunes all the same.

It was everywhere for a while, but not listened to it in a long time. Which says a lot really.

2.5

Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!Frank Sinatra

8/10

Ahhh - the Original and the best when it comes to Swing.

One of my Dad's favourites. Pretty timeless now thanks to modern crooners and they're all just pale imitations compared to this.

Songs are perfect, the arrangements so smooth and it's Sinatra in his prime. This is his perfect album. Almost 70 years old, but still sounds sublime.

Green RiverCreedence Clearwater Revival

6/10

This is a first listen for me, despite being nearly as old as the album!

I knew Bad Moon Rising, so was fascinating to hear it in the context of the album (often is).

I enjoyed it...it's got a swampy, gritty edge to it. Having said that it feels quite a lot like loads of different versions of Bad Moon Rising at times. Bit samey in one go maybe?

3 - will return to it. Suspect repeated listening may increase the score. Can see why it's on this list.

Hunting High and Lowa‐ha

6/10

One of the best Pop songs of the 80s is on here. Over time, Take on Me has become the thing everyone still remembers...and rightly so as it's just a perfect Pop song. But the album it comes from is a gem also.

The surprising thing is how much variety there is on this album. It's got a couple of filler tracks (The Blue Sky for example), but the rest is a great listen that actually opens up with repeated listening as there's some depth to it. It's not just takes of Take on Me.

The album closer (Here I stand and face the rain) is a cracking tune and leaves you with the distinct impression there's more to come from this band. Ironic as I don't think they ever bettered it.

Stands as a good Pop album of the 80s. Solid 3

Like a PrayerMadonna

6/10

Ahhh - the very last album I bought on Vinyl before the revival....

80s very much my era, and this is the end of what I consider to be her 'classic' 80s album run. After this she's reinventing herself every time.

It's a really solid album, but it's a mixed bag and there is some filler here (just like on all her albums tbh). When it's good, its great...title track and Oh Father being the standout tracks for me.

However, the Prince / Madonna track is just awful...should have never seen the light of day. Just drones on and on (and on).

3 (nearly a 4)

DocumentR.E.M.

8/10

Have to confess this is my first time listening to this album. Obviously know REM from the bigger hits (in the UK) that come later.
This is good! Bit more rock and less poppy. Will definitely go into rotation.

Lady SoulAretha Franklin

10/10

Just Wow! So many of what we now consider Soul standards on one album. Anything less that 5 stars would be unthinkable. Band is tight and on point for every track, but the voice....oh the voice. Just Wow!

FaithGeorge Michael

8/10

It's aged so well. All 8/10 or higher apart from I want your sex, which was and still is rubbish.