The five hundred and nineteenth album: #519 The The - Soul Mining
Two tracks in, with This Is the Day, the feeling of this album really began to crystalize. The first side's catchy synth pop that's just really enjoyable. The hooks stick in you, but it's so simple it really works. Not plain, but simple fun throughout. The other side goes more esoteric, with a haunting Twilight Hour followed by a ghostly opening to the title track Soul Mining. Its darker feeling is more interesting, and while the underlying hooks are still there, it's not as easy to listen to. It's quite a clear delineation between the two sides, each with their own uses.