Voices Carry is the debut studio album by American new wave band 'Til Tuesday, released in 1985.
'Til Tuesday's debut single was the album's title track, which went to #8 on the Billboard singles chart and remains the band's best-known song. The "Voices Carry" video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and was played heavily on MTV. The album's second and third singles were "Looking Over My Shoulder" (which peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100) and "Love in a Vacuum".
Production Martin Rushent was considered for the role of producer for Voices Carry.
Release Voices Carry was released on April 20, 1985. The album entered the Billboard 200 at 152nd place on June 25. The album spent 31 weeks on the chart, peaking at 19.
Reception
Spin described the album as "a pleasure, but not a revelation" and that "almost all the tunes are instantly catchy, if not especially inspired." Spin praised the group's vocalist stating that "in lead singer Aimee Mann they may have a star. [...] she has her own look and a voice that's evocative, thought not yet distinctive enough to stake out its own turf in the crowded field of female vocalists." Robert Christgau gave the album a B− rating, stating that the group rolls out "synth-pop hooks like vintage A Flock of Seagulls, but Aimee Mann's throaty warble sounds almost human. And while the generalization level of her aggressively banal lyrics signals product, not expression, every one lands square on a recognizable romantic cliché."
In a retrospective review, AllMusic wrote, "While most bands from Boston suffered from lack of production, Mike Thorne does a decent job on much of the album and excellent work on the title track." The review found that "Love in a Vacuum" was "over-produced, creating a good album track when the true follow-up hit was actually in hand." The review went on to note haunting lyrics on "I Could Get Used to This" and "No More Crying" which "separate this recording from work of similar '80s bands". The review concluded that "this album and its follow-ups should have had as much commercial success as the Cars, because artistically, they are equal to that band's dynamic debut."
Legacy The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming each episode after an ‘80s hit song or album, named a two-part episode after this album.
Track listing
Personnel 'Til Tuesday Aimee Mann – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass Robert Holmes – electric guitar, backing vocals Joey Pesce – synthesizers, piano, backing vocals Michael Hausman – drums, percussion
Production Produced By Mike Thorne Executive Producer: Dick Wingate Engineered By Dominick Maita Mixed By Harvey Goldberg; assisted by Moira Marquis Studio Assistants: Mike Krowiak & Jeff Lippay Mastered By Jack Skinner Britain Hill – photography
Charts Chart (1985)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 81United States (Billboard 200) 19
Certifications
Gold/Platinum - Music Canada Gold & Platinum - RIAA
Notes