502. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81-82-82-84) (1982)
















Track Listing

1. Someone Somewhere In Summertime
2. Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel
3. Promised You A Miracle
4. Big Sleep
5. Somebody Up There Likes You
6. New Gold Dream (81 82 83 84)
7. Glittering Prize
8. Hunter And The Hunted
9. King Is White And In The Crowd

Review

One thing I know is that I like this album, what I do not know however is just how much. It is kind of a strange feeling, I think it is pretty nifty stuff, the songs are great, have great hooks are never corny and I can now just about sing along with all of them, but there is just something nagging at the back of my brain.

It can be that this happens because this became the template for so much music coming out of the 80's that it feels like you kind of heard it all before, even if this wouldn't be true if you were listening to it for the first time in 82.

Simple Minds give synth-pop a more danceable beat that it has ever had before, there is a very strong bass line here throughout the album which actually really works in its favour marking a difference from what came before, but not much from what came later. Hell, it's a great album, I don't know what's wrong with me today. I don't like it enough for a 10, but surely enough for a 9.

Track Highlights

1. Someone, Somewhere, In Summertime
2. Hunter and the Hunted
3. Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel
4. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

Final Grade

9/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

The album has a slick, sophisticated sound thanks to producer Peter Walsh, Simple Minds were soon categorized as part of the "New Romantic" outgrowth of New Wave (along with Duran Duran and others), and the record generated a handful of charting singles including "Promised You a Miracle" and "Glittering Prize", both of which became concert favorites over the years. In addition, the jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock performed a synth solo on the track "Hunter and the Hunted."

Not my favourite in the album but Glittering Prize has an amazing video: