Home
sign up| reviews / member album review |
 content by: member |
|
The Human League certainly did. After all, this was the 'debut' album of the second incarnation of a band who's influence is almost certainly understated and who's impact at their peak is all too easily forgotten. Because when your basic USP is a stocky bloke with a wonky hair cut (Phil Oakey) backed up with two girls straight out of school (Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall) and a middling but talented allround musician (Jo Callis) there doesn't seem much to go on for world stardom. But The Human League dared, all right. They made one of the first records to be produced completely electronically; they recorded on of the greatest pop songs ever ('Don't You Want Me'); and had an impact so much sonically as much as they did aesthetically that now, over 25 years later, groups are still using a similar formula to make great pop records ('Can't Get You Out Of My Head', 'Freak Like Me', 'My Love'...). Schooled equally in avant garde (Kraftwerk's style drips from 'The Sound Of The Crowd') as much as straight forward pop music (the aforementioned 'Don't You Want Me') , The Human League made a record that appealed to everyone. So much so, that The Human League are one of what I call the 'acceptable' pop groups - along with Take That, Duran Duran and Abba - groups who trancended the vacuity of their songs and defined their time. Essential? Perhaps not. Guilty Pleasure? Almost certainly! Amir Arezoo, September 2007 Heard this, want more? Try: ABC - The Lexicon Of Love Duran Duran - Duran Duran Spandau Ballet - Journeys To Glory
 conversations
Read members' comments.
If you register you can discuss this article with other users. |
 |
see also
books  books and comics archive Author interviews and reviews from 2002 to 2008. film  film archive The best of cinema in the UK from 2002 to 2008. |
send to a friend
more reviews by this member