Men Without Hats Albums (6)
'No Hats Beyond This Point'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 10
Label Cloud 9
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The last Men Without Hats album came out twelve years ago and the hiatus must not have been long enough. The redline slash icon is back, the tinker toy sounding synths are back, but the wry songwriting and catchy melodies of the early days are gone. It's hard not to cringe when main man Ivan Doroschuk delivers such sophomoric lyrics so sternly. The excess of social commentary is simplistic and filled with clich�s and updating the Buggles shining moment for the "Internet killed the video star," hook of "Telepathy," is the album's only clever moment. Musically, No Hats Beyond This Point features such juvenile instrumental backing and insipid melodies it's about as satisfying as a Super Nintendo soundtrack. Fans who could once argue the band had more to offer than "Safety Dance," will find it harder to defend their position than ever. Doroschuk's impressive artwork that fills the booklet suggests a more suitable creative outlet. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Just when you thought you'd heard everything. Here we have an album of guitar-driven alt-rock from Montreal electro-pop ensemble Men Without Hats. Apparently, the Hats' lead singer/songwriter Ivan Doroschuk had taken to hanging out with Montreal scenesters like the Doughboys, who encouraged him to pursue his predilection for loud guitars. He had made a brief foray in this direction in 1985, but record company disinterest in the idea had pushed him back to electro-pop. Now that grungy guitars and alternative rock were all the rage, the idea seemed more viable to all concerned. Overall, it must be said, the Hats weren't as well-suited to this sound. Still, the record had its moments, with Ivan's distinctive voice and way with a melody helping to retain a little of the earlier Hats sound. Having covered Abba's "S.O.S." on their previous album, the Hats now delivered a guitar-driven cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus." Not their strongest record by any means, but they gave it their best shot, and the title track got plenty of exposure in Canada (the album wasn't released in the U.S.). ~ Robin Platts, All Music Guide
'The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century'
Release Date 1/1/1989
Tracks 12
Label Mercury
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What The Critics Say
Men Without Hats broke big with their 1982 debut, Rhythm of Youth. Though they never maintained that level of success, their third album Pop Goes the World was a smart, well-crafted, woefully underrated offering. The album chronicles the quest for and backlash of fame on songs like the title track, on which Ivan sings "Johnny and Jenny had a crazy dream/See their pictures in a magazine." Perhaps it was a way of dealing with the band's sudden success/failure, particularly on "Lose My Way" and "The Real World.." Thankfully, a wild sense of humor and a heartbreaking poignancy keeps the album from becoming too serious. Additionally, each song is vastly different: there are some lullabies ("Moonbeam"), some anthems ("Jenny Wore Black"), and some dirges ("Bright Side of the Sun" -- which is criminally short, adding to its power). Cartoonish but dark, this album marries wide-eyed innocence with cynicism in its recurring themes (celebrity, loss, rejuvenation, the vastness of our world) and characters (Jenny and Johnny, who are credited with bass and guitar, respectively). It takes a few listens to fully absorb the stories and lessons interwoven in Pop Goes the World's synthesizer-driven, somewhat goofy, sometimes somber cuts. Though there are some quirky aspects to the album (from the intro with a beckoning voice like that of Newcleus' helium-driven "Jam on It" to an intro to "Walk on Water" that sounds like a faraway voice on a hissing vinyl album), nothing seems gimmicky. Overall, the album is solid, smart, haunting, and complete. ~ Bryan Buss, All Music Guide
'Folk of the '80s (Part III)'
Release Date 1/1/1984
Tracks 9
Label MCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Men Without Hats' follow-up to their successful first album repeated the same formula as the debut with essentially the same results. Though Folk of the '80s (Part III) has its share of tedious material, the best songs on the album are as fun and charming as the finest moments from the debut. However, the band's audience had declined since the release of the first record, and Folk of the '80s (Part III) stiffed. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Men Without Hats' debut album Rhythm of Youth was a set of catchy, appealing synth pop. Although the material on the album was wildly inconsistent, the group's energy was infectious, making up for the weaker songs. And when the band managed to write a solid melody -- such as the hit single "The Safety Dance" -- the results were quite memorable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
