Released 40 years ago
Communards
The Communards · 1986
62 min · 12 tracks · synth-pop
Synth-driven melodies blend with passionate vocals, creating anthemic pop that resonates with themes of love and social consciousness.
Top tracks — play these first
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Don’t Leave Me This Way — This track serves as both the album's signature song and a powerful anthem about longing and heartbreak, showcasing Somerville's vocal prowess and emotional depth.
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So Cold the Night — With its haunting melody and introspective lyrics, this track captures the album's darker undertones while highlighting the duo's ability to merge danceable beats with poignant storytelling.
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Breadline Britain — This politically charged track addresses social issues in contemporary Britain, reflecting the band's commitment to activism and making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines catchy synth melodies with socially conscious themes, making it a notable entry in the synth-pop genre.
What we noticed
- The first track, 'Don’t Leave Me This Way', features a prominent synth line that sets a danceable pace, followed by a shift to slower tempos in subsequent tracks.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements or narrative lyrics, particularly in 'Breadline Britain', which addresses social issues directly.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- vibrant dance floor anthems
- emotional peaks and valleys
- sweeping synth melodies
- reflective moments of longing
- celebratory sing-along choruses
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- avoid emotional depth
Where this album fits
- Career context
- The Communards' self-titled debut album arrived just after their breakout single, a cover of Don't Leave Me This Way, which reached number one in the UK charts. This moment marked a significant turning point for lead singer Jimmy Somerville, who was previously known for his work with Bronski Beat, as he transitioned into a more mainstream pop sound alongside Richard Coles.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bronski Beat· Pet Shop Boys· Erasure
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Don’t Leave Me This Way 6:27
- 2 La dolarosa 2:43
- 3 Disenchanted 6:14
- 4 Reprise 5:22
- 5 So Cold the Night 6:50
- 6 You Are My World 8:01
- 7 Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) 3:52
- 8 Don’t Slip Away 2:58
- 9 Heavens Above 3:59
- 10 Forbidden Love 4:57
- 11 Breadline Britain 2:31
- 12 Disenchanted (12″ version) 8:45
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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