The Human League Albums Ranked
The Human League are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Initially an experimental electronic outfit, the group signed to Virgin Records in 1979 and later attained widespread commercial success with their third album Dare in 1981. The album contained four hit singles, including the UK/US number one hit “Don’t You Want Me.” The band received the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1982. Further hits followed throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, including “Mirror Man,” “(Keep Feeling) Fascination,” “Lebanon,” “Human” (a US No. 1), and “Tell Me When”. Here are all of The Human League albums ranked.
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8. Crash (1986)
“Though many of Human League’s fans were upset with “Crash,” an album that deviated somewhat from the group’s trademark synth-pop formula, the album proved to be the group’s biggest commercial success, yielding their last number one hit, “Human.” That song is possibly one of pop’s best-penned songs, a song asking for forgiveness for “indiscretions” on the part of both partners in a relationship.”
7. The Golden Hour Of The Future (2002)
“Just what music should be. Some nice instrumentals. A bit of a sense of humour to the mix and good lyrics ( well most of the time ) and what you have is a compilation of tracks that float in your head with great tunes and melody. Amazing to think that in just such a short space of time the Human League would become synth pop’s Abba and this work would go unheard of until now.”
6. Hysteria (1984)
“”Hysteria” seemed to be a very natural progression from “Dare” as each album had been from the one before it. Fans however, may not always be willing to grow with a band, which unfortunately forced this album to flop rather dismally. Still it is what it is, a collection of synth-pop songs that are socially relevant, intelligent, sincere, political and catchy at the same time. The best songs, other than the singles, are the reworked “I Love You Too Much” (the original all-synth version appeared only on the 1982 EP “FASCINATION!”), the beautiful “Betrayed” about the survivors of a war, and the lovesick anthem “So Hurt”. “Don’t You Know I Want You” was also a radio hit but never made the charts either in the U.S. or in the UK.”
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5. Greatest Hits (1988)
“This album really is not meant to be a modern take on a once great band, but rather, a trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with it. Of course, as with any album proclaiming to be the greatest hits, there are some mediocre songs, and at least one very poor one. Being Boiled was never a great song, and later attempts to make it so, failed mostly because those who remember the original remembered the sheer boredom of Phil Oakley’s voice on the “song”.
4. Fascination! (1983)
” It was clear that a major part of the Human League’s basic sound,outside their instrumental approach,was going to be soulful dance and funk music with a lot of strong melody. Honestly not a bad way to go when electronic pop music and what was used to create it was still in it’s infantile state of development.”
3. Reproduction (1979)
“To put it simply, if you like any kind of electronic music, this is a must have. Great catchy, off beat songs. Oddball, often humorous lyrics. These guys were groundbreaking and influenced a whole generation to follow. Besides the LP recording, you get the tremendous 12” release of “Dignity of Labor”, four beautiful industrial/space age instrumentals that sounded like nothing else upon their release.”
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2. Travelogue (1980)
“This is where electronic synth-pop began for me. Being Boiled, when included on listings, is just exquisite music-making, but there is plenty to match it here in Circus of Death, The Path of Least Resistance, and the terrific Empire State Human.”
1. Dare (1981)
“Enjoyable early 80’s synth album, lead vocals I always find a little limited. When I consider Replicas was released two years prior to this album it’s not as exciting. I’m an 80’s synth lover but this isn’t one of my favourites, there are certainly more melodic albums, but this still gets listened to. Don’t You Want Me was a bit of a phenomenon though, and deservedly so.”