First album I ever heard was 'Peace at Last' and I was blown away. I know that a lot of BN fans have very strong feelings about the 'Hats' and 'A Walk across the Rooftops' but, I would suggest that The Blue Nile is such a great band that wherever you start listening to them is just going to make you want to hear everything they have done.
(Reposted for those not on Patreon) Thanks for the reaction, Wayne! I'm glad you liked them. As for the whole "synth-pop" debate, I was using the term in the early '80s sense of the word, which was quite different than the synth-pop of today which can have incessant pounding rhythms. Your assessment of them being similar to Thomas Dolby or Yaz in that era was right on! I would say they took certain elements from synth-pop but their sound always had a connection to rock (there was usually a guitar and real bass on the tracks). Maybe art-rock would be a better word for it. I have also heard the term "sophisti-pop" used to describe them. In any event, as you heard they moved away from that sound to that more mature pop/rock style. Anyway, in the end labels are pretty meaningless... if it sounds good, it's good music, who cares what it's called! As far as the main creative force in the band, Paul Buchanan (the singer/guitarist) is definitely the main songwriter (he writes the lyrics and music for most songs). I find his voice to be amazingly expressive, he's almost a modern day crooner. The album Hats is very slow and calming for the most part (that's the one "Over The Hillside" is on). It has a trance-like quality, I actually use it to fall asleep if I have insomnia! Almost all the tracks are amazing on that album. Maybe I'll submit it for a reaction. Anyway, thanks again for the reaction!
There's stiff competition for that title in The Blue Nile's catalog! That song has such a beautiful darkness, it's hard to argue with you. I definitely considered it as my choice for this reaction from Hats, but to me Over The Hillside is just breathtaking and is the perfect first track to draw you into the seductive, melancholy, nighttime dreamscape of Hats.
Hats is one of my favorite albums ever. Flawless.
First album I ever heard was 'Peace at Last' and I was blown away. I know that a lot of BN fans have very strong feelings about the 'Hats' and 'A Walk across the Rooftops' but, I would suggest that The Blue Nile is such a great band that wherever you start listening to them is just going to make you want to hear everything they have done.
(Reposted for those not on Patreon)
Thanks for the reaction, Wayne! I'm glad you liked them. As for the whole "synth-pop" debate, I was using the term in the early '80s sense of the word, which was quite different than the synth-pop of today which can have incessant pounding rhythms. Your assessment of them being similar to Thomas Dolby or Yaz in that era was right on! I would say they took certain elements from synth-pop but their sound always had a connection to rock (there was usually a guitar and real bass on the tracks). Maybe art-rock would be a better word for it. I have also heard the term "sophisti-pop" used to describe them. In any event, as you heard they moved away from that sound to that more mature pop/rock style. Anyway, in the end labels are pretty meaningless... if it sounds good, it's good music, who cares what it's called!
As far as the main creative force in the band, Paul Buchanan (the singer/guitarist) is definitely the main songwriter (he writes the lyrics and music for most songs). I find his voice to be amazingly expressive, he's almost a modern day crooner. The album Hats is very slow and calming for the most part (that's the one "Over The Hillside" is on). It has a trance-like quality, I actually use it to fall asleep if I have insomnia! Almost all the tracks are amazing on that album. Maybe I'll submit it for a reaction. Anyway, thanks again for the reaction!
check out Let's Go Out Tonight by them. One of the most beautiful songs ever
There's stiff competition for that title in The Blue Nile's catalog! That song has such a beautiful darkness, it's hard to argue with you. I definitely considered it as my choice for this reaction from Hats, but to me Over The Hillside is just breathtaking and is the perfect first track to draw you into the seductive, melancholy, nighttime dreamscape of Hats.
It should be outright illegal to listen to 'Hats' during daytime hours!