View Poll Results: How do you rate thi album?

Voters
18. You may not vote on this poll
  • 1/10

    0 0%
  • 2/10

    0 0%
  • 3/10

    0 0%
  • 4/10

    1 5.56%
  • 5/10

    3 16.67%
  • 6/10

    2 11.11%
  • 7/10

    3 16.67%
  • 8/10

    3 16.67%
  • 9/10

    4 22.22%
  • 10/10

    2 11.11%
+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 18 of 18

Thread: Album Club, October 2016: Simple Minds - 'New Gold Dream'

  1. #11
    Join Date: Jun 2010

    Location: Essex, United Kingdom

    Posts: 899
    I'm givingyouaprettygoodclue.

    Default

    Right then, have relistened.

    1 cassette, 2 CDs and this year’s Half Speed Master here

    I’ve commented a few times on AoS in praise of this album. To add something new to the discussion, the older I’ve become the more I appreciate its spiritual undertone (eg Belief is a beauty thing…Shine the Light on me, so that much more I see, in the light of his love…Shooting from the hip about our faith and love…and of course, Somebody up there likes you…). It’s probably as close to a religious record as I’ve got and yet if you didn’t look at the sleeve, which is a bit of a giveaway, you might not notice. I like that it's not in-your-face but that the lyrics and music are mutually complimentary.

    Still think MacNeil was their star player.

    Oh yes, 9 out of 10. Eternal !

    Pete

  2. #12
    Join Date: Apr 2009

    Location: Oakengates, Shropshire

    Posts: 654
    I'm Richard.

    Default

    It's often the case that the album that gets you into a band will always remain your favourite album, even if everyone else thinks that was their worst release. A good example is that my favourite album by The Fall is 'I am kurious Oranj' which rates pretty low in most other Fall fans lists, but so it is here that I have very fond memories of Street Fighting Years by Simple Minds. It was the album that got me into them and one of only a very few pre-recorded tapes I ever bought and it got played to death on holidays in West Wales as a teenager.

    Strangely I'd never sat down and listened to New Gold Dream so I'm grateful for the nomination. I'm familiar with Promised you a miracle and Glittering prize which I've always loved. I'm finding the album something of a mixed bag though, but certainly interesting enough that I'll come back for further listening. I love some of the wonky bass playing which I thought might have been David Sylvian at first as it sounds a lot like Japan and bits of the album remind me of Byrne and Eno's 'My life in the bush of ghosts'. What I'm not so fussed on is the vocal recording which is often low down in the mix and has that recorded in the bathroom quality of way too much reverb. For that reason 'Somebody up there likes you' is one of the stand out tracks for me.

    I like it, but it's never going to replace Street Fighting Years as my favourite album of theirs. I think 6/10
    Rich

  3. #13
    Join Date: Jul 2012

    Location: Saddleworth.

    Posts: 154
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    I've not listened to much by this band, and don't own any of their albums. Apart from Promised you a miracle and Glittering prize, this is not what I was expecting. 6/10 from me
    Mike

    My kit

    Garrard 401, 12 inch Jelco SA – 750L, Yannis Tome 423.5 Phono Silver Litz tonearm cable, Graham Slee Reflex C with Yannis Tome 223.5 Connect-Litz cables, Audio-Technica AT33EV, Audio Technica AT33 Mono, XTZ A100 D3, Azur 650C CDP with Yannis Tome 223.5 Connect-Litz cables, Speakers - Kef LS S0, Graham Slee Novo headphone amp, Sennheiser HD650, Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO.

  4. #14
    Join Date: May 2015

    Location: St Leonard's on Sea

    Posts: 1,136
    I'm Loz.

    Default

    Gave this a listen this evening and was reminded why I stopped listening to Simple Minds many years ago. I quite liked Simple Minds prior to this record when they were a bit more edgy and dare I say it, experimental. New Gold Dream to my ears sounds lumbering, sludgy and flabby. It rarely gets out of second gear. Jim Kerr, not a bad vocalist it has to be said is way down in the mix. A pity really. Having said that 'Promised you a Miracle' is a cracking single that lifts things it out of the doldrums somewhat. But overall one song on the album sums it up for me, 'Big Sleep'.

    I tend to disagree that the 80's was poor decade for music. If one scratched the surface and delved deeper than the Top 40 there was some terrific stuff being made. Simple Minds have clearly made some great records but I hope in the future that 80's music is not judged on this particular one. Sorry, a 5/10 from me.

    Cheers

    Loz
    Last edited by HackneyRF; 27-10-2016 at 08:34. Reason: Typo

  5. #15
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 4,162
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    7/10 from me but there are some 10/10 tracks there which make it a must buy
    TAD CD / DAC / Pre, Technics 1210, MCRU PSU, Mike New Bearing & Platter, Stillpoints LP1 weight, Speedy Steve Ebony armboard, Fidelity Research FR64FX arm, Ortofon SPU. Aurorasound VIDA Phono Pre Amp, TAD Power Amp, TAD E1 speakers. Coherent RTZ 3 Grounding box, Coherent grounding cables, Creaktiv racks. Coherent Mains Cables. SR Blue Fuse. Interconnects : Coherent and Yannis 223.5 Connect Litz. Coherent speaker cable. Audio Magic Transcendence Conditioner. Coherent mains socket. Mains Filters : , PS Audio Harvesters, Russ Andrews Purifiers, Tacima, Vertex. Black Ravioli and RDC supports. Electric Beach S1NX platforms for TAD CD and Technics. Ferrite chokes everywhere except the above. Ears, brain

    Mike

  6. #16
    Join Date: Jun 2009

    Location: Southampton, UK

    Posts: 1,446
    I'm Lee.

    Default

    This is a great album. A 10 from me, I'm a big fan. I got the half speed vinyl a couple of weeks ago for 12.99 too!

    The basslines are just awesome.
    Lee

    Independent Apple tech support guy at Macnology

    Gear: iMac > ALAC > Airport Express > Beresford Caiman DAC > Mark Grant IC > Audiolab 8000S > Chord Rumour Speaker Cable > Dynaudio Audience 42 Speakers > Grado SR80 Headphones

    Vinyl: 90's Rega Planar 2, RB250, Bias Cart, Rega Fono Mini

    Last.fm

  7. #17
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

    Default

    Have it on vinyl and SACD. I have listened to Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call more over the years.

    I stopped liking the Minds after this album. Beautiful smooth sound all the way through this.

    Jim Kerr's lyrics are quite interesting I think. Have a listen - really quite curious thinking going on that has a strange surreal weirdness to it.

  8. #18
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Dagenham Essex

    Posts: 11,215
    I'm Allen.

    Default

    I am pleased some folks like it , I think its great

    I paid £25 for my copy , opps !
    [

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •