The Kick Inside
by Kate Bush

Kate Bush's debut album is an excellent collection of slightly quirky songs from one of music's most unique artists. There is a beautiful innocence to some tracks, especially on the lovely, the man with the child in his eyes. Other highlights include, them heavy people, saxophone song, and the absolutely magnificent, Wuthering heights, one of the greatest songs ever written and still, in my opinion, Bush's best ever song. The kick inside, is the start of a brilliant career that would continue to astound and amaze for decade's to come. (Edited)

From HoldenM TOP 100 COMMENTER 06/24/2023 17:45 | #297769 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

A breathtaking debut. Rarely does any artist come so fully formed and so bursting with imagination. And it would be a perfect album if the back half could sustain the quality of the first side, but this is still a masterful collection of songs. Even the cuts I'm not crazy about offer interesting turns and surprises. (Edited)

A strong debut. Isn't that what any artist would want? While some might go for instant fame, many artists don't want to have that super top of the charts hit right away. Selling a few hundred thousand singles and a Christmas number 1 before being forgotten. Known as the guy or girl who "sung that song". Doesn't appeal to them. Not at all. They want to stay and be looked at for the music. A strong debut would let them spread their wings on later albums. I have no idea how Kate felt when 'Wuthering Heights' hit the summit. 4 weeks number 1, hard to believe isn't it! This adaption of 'Wuthering Heights' comes with a glistening piano and voice like no other. Both haunting and beautiful, it is hard not to feel a ghostly presence when listening to this one. Not that it is bad. In fact, I should make it clear this is one of the best Kate has ever done! This album has impeccable songwriting and suits Kate as a vocalist perfectly. 'Them Heavy People' is a fitting tribute to the people who helped her to the top and 'Moving' is a warm opening with sparse instruments. The blur prints to a standard top 40 vocalist album are there but it is where they deviate from them it gets interesting. Don't get me wrong, 'Kite' and 'Oh to Be In Love' are both great songs which used tried and tested formula's, it is songs like 'The Saxophone Song' which show a lot more maturity. More of a story than anything, although not spoken word, it has Kate going into some bar and there is like a dude playing Saxophone or something. She likes it too. Seriously... I can't do the song justice with that explanation. Not a lot I can explain of here and you will have to listen yourself. This is a mature artist who has youth completely on her side, switching from American saloon jaunts on 'James and The Cold Gun' to much more... difficult subjects on 'The Kick Inside'. If you had heard this album at the time, you would be right to think better things were to come. (Edited)

From Freddie55 TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/16/2010 23:29 | #14449 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Formulaic? The Kick Inside was an original pioneering debut and unlike anything else on the airwaves at the time. A brilliant album considering the context that it was first. It has somewhat less impact today because of 30 years of "borrowing and honouring" by artists such as Tori Amos. (Edited)

From serpico 09/04/2014 15:18 | #121168 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

"The poise, grace and the sheer breadth of talent displayed on Kate Bush’s debut album, belies the fact that it was released when Bush was just 19. Propelled by the inordinate success of her first single, the staggering Wuthering Heights, The Kick Inside is a magical blend of dramatic rock and gentle balladry. Today, it sounds completely captivating, back then it must have seemed as though it was beamed in from another world.

Key track: The Man With The Child In His Eyes" (Edited)