Gary Numan- Observer REACTION & REVIEW 

This album has opened my eyes. I knew Cars but hadn't gone deep enough into the catalog. What an album. Also, shoutout to JP for repping Aes. Greatest rapper of my lifetime.

"Glassy Overtone" Yes, that is the way I would also describe that particular kind of keyboard wash. Thanks for the reaction and review. 😎😎

When this album was released I was still at the point of wanting a synth and loved everything that used one. As a basic synth album rather than one which featured one from time to time, I fell in love with this album. It still sounds better than much of what has been recorded since.

I've always dug that tight warm Snare sound. That's my favorite snare sound in all of Rock.

Thanks for reacting to Numan J not enough people recognise his genius wait for telekon! I have a suggestion I know he has blew up on u tube but I watched the my name is ren video and it really got to unlike most music from today so maybe you should give it a try.

I think Numan is describing a psychological effect of feeling disengaged from the world around you. Drum machines were not very good at that time. I wonder if Numan would have used one if they had been better? I like this combination of traditional drums and bass with synthesisers. In was not long before synths became very common in pop music, as the technology developed and they became mass produced.

Observer to me is often the overlooked gem of this album and my personal favorite. I also think it would have been a very successful follow up single to Cars in the US. Cedric's Numan drum tracks are some of the most sampled in hip hop. Also, he played in the prog rock band Druid before joining Numan's band. RIP.

I'm enjoying your Numan reviews, and particularly the approach you're taking about doing all of the songs from a single album. Once you finish this album, I strongly recommend you move on to his 2013 album, "Splinter: Songs From A Broken Mind". Many fans consider it one of his best ever albums, and certainly his best of the modern era.

Yessss 😄

I always really like this track. Musically speaking "Observer" is the prototype of "Cars", just more stripped down, but no less moving and racy. I really like Cedric Sharpley's drumming which remains straight but at the same time subtle and groovy. Ditto with Paul Gardiner with the discreet but distinctive bass playing and whose brief intervention I really like (around 2:06 on record but 3:51 on Justin's video, just after Gary Numan's last verse). Hats off to this great rhythm section, made up of great musicians who both left too soon!

I see, therefore, I spam! Peace & Love.

always enjoy these videos.

Yes, I've always enjoyed sitting in a nice spot while just observing the world around me, too! 😀 Also because there's something calming to it, almost like meditating 😇🙏 And I'm not really into Rap, but strangely, one of the first 45's I'd ever bought with my own money was 'Ant Rap' by Adam & the Ants 😄

Would hedonistic headmaster, also be a "The Pleasure Principal"? Love & Peace.

And this song totally is ripping off that 'Cars' dude! ...😄 😉

First track on this album where I would say it is a bit filler-ish.

This sounds like Cars 2. Great synth innovator, but not the great songwriter that Thomas Dolby is.

Out of all the tracks we’ve heard so far on this album, this may be my least favorite. I still like it, but not to the degree of the others. Maybe a little too repetitive.

Probably the weakest track on the album. There were better out-takes, but maybe Numan thought the subject matter important to the overall concept of the album.