Album Club, November 2019: Thomas Dolby - 'The Flat Earth'

[Alex_UK]

Well, I had the singles on 7" at the time (still have them actually) but never the album on Vinyl, (though I do have Aliens Ate My Buick) though I have two editions on CD/FLAC, and I Scare Myself is a regularly used "Hi-Fi Test Track" as I know it so well (and love it.)

It's certainly very much of its time - unmistakably 1980s! That's no bad thing, at the time I loved the synth sounds that were emerging (so much so that I saved up and bought a Casio CZ-101 synth of my own - it was on 27th November 1986 and I remember exactly because I passed my driving test in the morning and bought the synth in the afternoon to celebrate.) Anyway, I digress...

Not quite a 10 as I don't love every track but it is definitely a 9 from me and one that will continue to "spin" for many more years to come. Good choice Ian!

[AJSki2fly]

Listening to Thomas Dolby reminded me of not only Nik Kershaw - "The Riddle" but also Howard Jones - "Human's Lib" (1983) this is a classic, with some great Tunes, some more pop than others, but all very good, also sounds as if more real drums used, however in Wikipedia it sites this as used Oberheim_DMX drum machine must have been one of the better ones.

[Alex_UK]

PS - He also produced one of my favourite albums of all time - Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout - if you've never heard that and liked this give that a go too.

His list of collaborations is astonishing, actually!

[HackneyRF]

Good choice Ian. I really enjoyed that! Played it a couple times now. I'm not really familiar with Thomas Dolby apart from his singles. Some of the sounds/instruments anchor it in the 80's on occasion but overall a cracking record. A strong 8/10

[Edward]

Bit confused on albums etc. Tidal has a single and a Collectors Edition. Anyway listened to the Collectors Edition and liked what I heard. Def shades of Prefab Sprout in there but more classy. All tracks nicely done with excellent range.

Did not dabble in Thomas Dolby when he was at his height. Pity.

8/10

Good choice!

[Ashmore]

I had the same trouble - the complete album isn’t on Tidal. (I use Spotty too, so played it from there)

[gninnam]

Loved TD from the first time I heard him and bought his first album.
Listened to this one a year or so ago and had another listen after this thread started.
Found it to be of its time but very well put together.
As said above the production and the various instrumentalist were vary good but some of the lyrics seemed a bit trite..

Enjoyed it the second time around but it was more background music while I was stripping wallpaper

[Tim]

Sorry Ian, didn't like it in the 80s, like it even less now.

I couldn't play it all, so I won't vote and skew the figures.

Interesting to know the Prefab Sprout thing though, used to like them and have 'From Langley Park to Memphis'

[Barry]

This is new to me, and although I had heard of Thomas Dolby, I hadn't heard any of his output.

Very much of the '80s, a decade in which, surprisingly, I liked the pop music, this album exemplifies that sound very well: synthesisers, drum machines, and not a guitar to be seen or heard! From the get-go, this album grabs your attention and you are off on a bit of a roller coaster ride. At times it can pall a bit, but just when your attention is starting to flag, a track comes along which surprises you and makes you listen attentively again.

I particularly liked the first track and a later track called(?) "I scare myself", (as performed by Dan Hicks). It's not the sort of album I would rush out and buy now, but I did enjoy the nostalgia of the '80. So for that trip down memory lane I'll give it 7/10.

[Discopants]

I played this for the first time last week at work with a pc and headphone setup. Was a bit of a fractured listening session but I liked a couple of tracks and thought the album was interesting, and different.
I thought I should give it another go to be fair but that was another fractured session at work. Then I got to the weekend and listened at home. What grabbed me was the complexity and depth of the material. The Spotify syream quality is superb. The musicianship is excellent the production too. I was originally thinking 7 on first listen but I've played the album 5 times this week and I like every track. Every time i play it I notice something different going on, be it interplays, or dialogue or instruments.

The name Thomas Dolby had no recognition for me but I think i can remember 2 of the tracks as singles back in the day.

It's grown on me so much this past week that I'm going to explore more of Mr Dolby and give this a firm 10 out of 10.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk