Artist: Bronski Beat Album: Truthdare Doubledare

Year: 1986
Duration: 0:0-1

The Untold Truth About Bronski Beat's Album Truthdare Doubledare

Are you a fan of the iconic band Bronski Beat? Then you must remember their groundbreaking release Truthdare Doubledare. Written in the 1980s, this album was a political statement that touched on issues of human rights, sexuality and love. In this blog post, we will critically review the album and discuss the artist's brief history, the music genre, the most innovative parts, and the best songs from Truthdare Doubledare.

Bronski Beat was founded in 1983 by Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek and Jimmy Somerville. This British band was influential in the emergence of the synthpop genre, which combined electronic music with new wave. Their first album The Age of Consent was a commercial success, with politically charged songs such as Smalltown Boy that tackled homophobia and the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. The trio's second album Truthdare Doubledare was released in 1986 and was equally as thought-provoking.

The music genre of Truthdare Doubledare is a mix of synthpop, electronic, new wave and even a bit of funk. It's no surprise that the album has tracks such as Hit That Perfect Beat and Cadillac Car which are pure dancefloor fillers. The unique position that Bronski Beat held in the music industry allowed them to include some of their avant-garde artistry that brought social and political commentary to the forefront of their sound. This hallmarked their music genre as a blend of fun and important matters.

The album's most unique and innovative parts are its intricate beats, electronic instrumentation, and the peculiar vocal stylings of Jimmy Somerville. The track Close To The Edge is particularly groundbreaking in its use of analog synthesizers, a pulsing bass, and Somerville's high falsetto. This sound creates an atmospheric and ethereal quality that is enchanting. The song Do It is also a standout in its experimentation with sound effects and electronic sounds that build up to a layered climax. This innovation ensured that Truthdare Doubledare was not just another generic synthpop album; it was a creative burst of music bleeding out of the boxes it was postured in.

The album's best songs include Hit That Perfect Beat, an infectiously danceable track that will get anyone moving. Cadillac Car has a funkier feel but still delivers a message of how capitalism has affected human relationships. I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me is a tribute to Donna Summer and John Leyton's songs while embedding the interpretation of their love shared over the years. Punishment for Love deals with the themes of love and sex in an emotionally charged ballad, touching on the issues that arise when love becomes an addiction. These tracks and the other offerings on the album not only have a distinct beat but resonate with the listener, demonstrating the substance that their music carries.

In conclusion, Truthdare Doubledare is an album that has stood the test of time. It's hard-hitting and won’t let you look away from the messages it carries. With this album, Bronski Beat made a statement, that their voices would not be silent when it came to the issues that affect our society, and even as the album is interpreted differently with time, it's a reminder to the audience that art is never obsolete. The music did not only put synthpop on the map but also marked the beginning of using music as a medium of politics and social issues. This album is worth listening to even after all these years, and can still inspire us to think about, and act upon the pressing issues of our time.

In essence, Bronski Beat’s Truthdare Doubledare is an album that showcased the talent and the beliefs of the British trio. It's a fearless statement that reminds us that music is not just sound, it can have meaning and make a change. The album demonstrated that synthpop, electronic and new wave music could be enriched with socio-political notions, that music was not constrained to a certain label or genre, and that to make music, one does not have to compromise their values. Even after all these years, Truthdare Doubledare stands out as a timeless classic, considered by many as one of the band's greatest achievements. Listening to the album today brings about as much joy and insight as it did when it was first released. And happily, lovers of music and freedom of expression continue to enjoy it.