ICEHOUSE (1980)
In 1980, the band formerly known as “Flowers” released their debut album, Icehouse. It marked the beginning of the Australian band's journey and it is one of the most solid debut albums of the 1980s. Why is it solid? I am so glad you asked! It is because Icehouse doesn’t just introduce a band; it defines a sound: icy post-punk wrapped in new wave polish, wired with synth-rock muscle. Also, it has earned itself a No Skip Album title! It’s always cold inside the Icehouse, but this record will be forever red-hot.
From the opening self titled track Icehouse, the record sets the tone for what is to come. It is one of the most immersive beginnings to a record you will ever hear. It pulls you in right away to this eerie and cold soundscape and it is an experience I forever wish I could feel again for the first time.
The whole first half of the record is standout after standout. Infectious melodies, driving rhythms, catchy and memorable hooks are all embedded in songs like We Can Get Together, Sister, Walls and Fatman. Fatman, in particular, leans bluesy in the low end but stays tethered to the band’s new wave DNA. These songs remain fan favorites to this day, thanks to their energetic pace, soaring choruses, and memorable guitar riffs.
The back half of the album is just ever so slightly weaker in comparison to the start of the album, but that is only because Icehouse starts off so strong. Boulevarde, Skin and the eerie instrumental Bonus Track Paradise Lost are all unbelievably great songs that deserve just as much attention as the more commercially accessible start of the album. When I say weaker, I don’t mean bad or skippable. Not even close. Don’t you dare skip! We are watching you.
The 30th Anniversary Edition comes loaded with bonus tracks and 19 live recordings. The live cuts are raw and energetic—less polished, more punchy. You get a real sense of how potent this band was on stage, even in their early days.
All said, Icehouse is a killer debut and a cornerstone of early Australian new wave. If you want to hear where the genre was headed—or just want a record that still sounds cool decades later—start here.
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Highlight Song:
Icehouse
Walls
Boulevarde
Sister
Fatman
We Can Get Together
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Not question this album is worth owning. It is a fantastic post-punk new wave synth no-skip album that deserves to be played in its entirety over and over and over again. If this is a genre you like or can get down with, this record is a must have.
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Overall Rating:
4.5 Stars
