Nixon

Speaking of disgraced former presidents, Donald Trump got arrested in Georgia today. In other news, this album made me a little bit sleepy. More at 11.

Very pretty chamber pop with a bit of a country feel to it. Beautiful orchestral arrangements. Feels like it falls somewhere between Neil Young and Neil Diamond. If there isn't a guy named Neil in the band I will be thoroughly disappointed.

It's an album. Apparently I listened to most of it but I'm not really sure when that took place. Nothing stood out and I wouldn't go back to it.

I get excited when I see a short album with only 10 songs. But each song averaging around 5:30min kills that excitement almost immediately. So far every song sounds like it could be used as an intro song in a Netflix/Amazon Prime/HBO Max/AppleTV Drama Series Honestly, very boring

Nixon is a wildly uneven album, oscillating between gentle country inflected pop and ill advised forays into Philly soul, but that doesn't even begin to describe how strange it is. On the country inflected pop songs, singer Kurt Wagner sounds a lot like Dean Wareham from Luna, who in turn took his cues from Lou Reed. He can be modestly effective in this mode, as in the opener, The Old Gold Shoe. But his falsetto, as on You Masculine You, is to die for, meaning it makes you want to die. And when he launches into a curdled attempt at Philly soul, as in What Else Could It Be?, I imagine flocks of birds dying in mid-air and plummeting to the ground like so many hailstones as an appropriate response. Then there are the arrangements. They are painstakingly worked out and quite involved, featuring a conventional core band, strings, horns, vibraphone, touches of atmospheric distortion, even a full on choir, but rarely has so much effort resulted in so little reward. Most of the way through Nixon, the arrangements and performances are quite gentle and the music tends to glide through one ear and out the other, leaving no trace. But at times, Lambchop allows a bit of distortion or some grungy guitar to bleed through, adding some much needed edge. It's hard to know what to make of all this. Clearly, Lambchop is capable of making listenable music. If they had spun out variations on pop numbers with a veneer of country, tempered by some grunge guitar and distortion, they might have come up with a modest, low key success. As it is, whatever is modestly effective is overshadowed by horrific, cringe-worthy attempts at Philly soul.

I don't get it. The arrangements are elaborate enough and the band (backed by a small orchestra it would seem) played them them perfectly. The production is slick and polished. The vocals are full of nicotine soaked rasp. The lyrics are dense and feel like short stories or letters read outloud. But the music just lacks anything to connect to. Each song just sort of lilts into the next. The emotional register of each song is perfectly uniform, bordering on monotone. Funny enough, "What Else Could It Be?" is like the one song I felt something with, and it's the one where the vocalist is singing in a screeching falsetto that seems two modulations higher than the vocalist dares belong. Yet, it kinda worked for me. So, what am I missing? Why is this album on the list?

I really wanted to like this album more, but it was just missing any real musical depth. The instrumentals felt the same from beginning to end, and they weren't memorable enough for that to be a good thing.

THIS is what happens when someone decides to make music for reasons other than to get laid, you get a bland, nonsensical, auditory circle jerk of comatose mumble singing and the only 10-piece band in history that DIDN'T disturb their neighbors. Get your priorities straight, and maybe your songs will sound better.

I don't get the "universal acclaim" for this album. Maybe I'm not sophisticated enough?

If Tom Waites, Leonard Cohen, and Smokey Robinson had a baby.

A real struggle to get through, I found it monotonous, mundane. Although I think that's maybe the intention in an odd way. I get why people would like it but it does nothing for me.

I understand why no one seems to like this album, but it really did something for me. At some point in the future, I will 100% be getting wine drunk and dancing around to this in my kitchen while my husband rolls his eyes.

What is this doing on the list? Bland and boring. Meh.

Wikipedia lists the genre of this album as "Countrypolitan," which is a cursed word that should not exist. After listening to this guy's falsetto, the jury is out on the band itself as well. Best track: Up with People

Modern easy listening. Pretty bland, Petrified Florist is the best track but it's not enough that I'd listen again.

Musically, it sounds okay. My main issue with this album is that I have read all the lyrics and listened multiple times and I have no idea what the album is about. The lyrics are nonsensical and the vocals are murky. Too many metaphors. Definitely not a "fun" album. I can't think of any song I like on the album, but it is good enough to put in the background I guess. It doesn't actively annoy me is I treat the vocals as sounds rather than words.

Perfect Sunday morning listening. Chill but interesting. Didn't feel like skipping a single song and listened to the album twice in the same day.

I can't call this bad, but I can call it boring af... In fact it bored the fuck out of me.. I won't be able to have sex for an entire week because of this album (5.75) 😴😴½

Didn't know this existed. It would be fine background music while working in the kitchen, but for some reason they have Miss Piggy as a guest singer on some of the tracks. Might revisit but for now moving on.

just like watergate some of these songs should've stayed clandestine, but somehow were made public anyway

Just a very deeply dull affair, which did not appeal to me at all. In fact this album itself made me stop this journey for over 4 months.

Kind of boring

Not my kind of weird.

SHACK. I want to give it 5 stars for the lamby goodness, but I just can't.

So boring and generally rough vocals throughout. 4

A strange combination of country and soul, lush orchestration, impenetrable lyrics and Kurt Wagners irritating singing voice (especially that falsetto). The album is well produced and carefully arranged but the overall result is just not all that memorable.

absurdly good album. yall trash here.

Richard Nixon is not known for being a soulful kind of person. Spiteful, paranoid, tricky and evil definitely. But not soulful. So Lambchop's breakthrough album named after him, but not entirely dealing with the idea of him, is a brilliant contradiction of things. You become swept away by Lambchop's ability to weave elements of country, rock, soul and classical into a effortless blend that borders on perfection. From The Old Gold Shoe onwards, Nixon swoons and sways in a way that brings, however improbably, a good shine on the name for a short period of time. Also, the How I Met Cat Power version of the songs on here is just as stellar and offers the songs new perspectives.

I have always loved this album, and I will go years and years without thinking about it or listening to it. And it's been a while, so I was pleasantly surprised when it popped up. I'm also a bit surprised that this album is on the list, but reading it's wiki page it sounds like it was very well received particularly in the UK and appeared on a lot of year end best of lists from UK pubications, so that tracks. This album is just gorgeous and I love the way it meanders and snakes through. Up With People is one of my all time favorite songs, and it always feels like a nice rediscovery when it pops up because it is so often out of sight and out of mind. Great record all around.

Great listen!

That was beautiful and Interesting. Up with People fit the vibe so well.

Wow I listened to this literally two days before it came up on the shuffle. Lambchop are absolutely an unclassifiable band, alt-soul, new country, whatever. But the songs are brilliant all the way through, Wagner's voice a dolourous delight and the arrangements stately. Is it a five? Yes probably.

Have never heard of this band before. Really enjoyed this album. Thought the instrumentation, arrangements, and lyrics were all compelling and unique. I admire the blending of different popular styles to create something new and fun to listen to. This album has a great blend of easier listening tunes and ones you need to focus on. It reminded me of other indie bands like maybe Wilco, especially the lead’s soft, slightly acerbic voice and observational lyrics. I will totally recommend this album to others now that I know it.

Wow, never ad erd of thees before. It is very nice.

Easy listening, interesting and fun!

Ok I've had this saved for a couple of weeks. I can't categorise it, but why should I? Get Richard Hawley vibes one day, Jarvis Cocker the next. Ok, it's not an platinum best seller classic, but I REALLY like this.

beautiful western, classical, alt-rock album - 10/10 his vocal range is also really impressive

What a find! I have never heard this band before but I loved listening to this!

Immediately infectious! I can't believe I never heard of them. Loved it!

I have never heard of Lambchop, but the album cover for NIXON made me very happy, so I was excited to put this record on. Turns out the cover is a great representation for what's inside. Quirky, inscrutable, but so pleasant. I loved the orchestral easy listening sound and the lyrics - even though I often had no idea what they meant. Felt like what Burt Bacharach might compose if he were really, really stoned. Highlights: "The Old Gold Shoe" - who starts an album like this? I appreciate the confidence of making such a laid back track the opener. "Grumpus" is one of my favorites on the album. I really wanted to be drinking a pink squirrel in a dark lounge while this was playing. SOOO nice! "Be square and kind to all your friends Stop staring through the bitter lens." This song has advice I can use. "You Masculine You" made me laugh immediately as the title juxtaposes with the falsetto delivery. But it is oh so lovely. "Up With People" felt like... an Up With People concert? The clapping, the backing choir, the happy music... uplifting! "Nashville Parent" had me floating on a very strange cloud where I observed neighbors fighting, owls decapitating rodents, spit on my chest, and a fiberglass funny face on the wall. I love being made so comfortable and happy while having no idea what is going on. "What Else Could It Be?" could be the easy listening version of a Bee Gees song with its lush violins and falsetto performance. I loved the ending. "The Distance From Her To There" had a real country feel that I loved. The steel guitar, the vibraphone - oh yes! "The Book I Haven't Read" is a lovely love song - the only one I can think of with the word 'disgusting' in it. I wish it were written for me. "The Petrified Florist" with its clever title is one of the darker songs on the album... definitely sensed some tension here. "The Butcher Boy" followed up with a really dark story. Because it seemed to make perfect sense I wondered if my brain had been reprogrammed ... then I had a look at the credits on Wikipedia and realized that this was an old traditional American folk song. The Apple Music credits show the writer as Lambchop since they did take liberties with the traditional song. Really unique take on this. NIXON's inscrutability doesn't bother me because the music is so nice and the singer so approachable - kind of a cross between Cat Stevens and Barry Gibb. The lyrics often felt like another instrument to me - when they didn't make sense I was satisfied with the sounds they made and the feelings they evoked. NIXON is a strange, wonderful place where I feel warm, welcome and comfortable that I will revisit often.

A sweet surprise. A candid voice singing delicious songs. Loved the guitar tune and chorus. I am adding some of these songs to my personal playlists now!

I was not expecting to absolutely love this. But I do, and I’m very pleased about it

I don’t really know what I just listened to and I’m not even mad about it

Sort of a bummer because I think the music on this album is fucking great, but I find his singing underwhelming and borderline annoying.

Overall doesn't connect with this and finds it boring

It's a bold album with a rich sound, but it goes in various directions and loses me at times.

I think this is the first artist and album that I was completely unaware of! I love the album art, but admittedly did not listen to much of this album. This doesnt seem to fit the format of "1001 albums to hear before you die" or any sort of album a day thing, because the songs are deceptively complex despite being so soft and simple sounding on first listen. I feel like the songs may be rewarding enough on repeat listens to warrant the high praise the album obviously received, but listening to it once it's frankly too hard to tell. It makes me wish this site had a "listened but cannot rate" option, I would choose that, otherwise I'll go in the middle of the road with three stars, and I will probably revisit again later

Q. What does SHACK eat for breakfast? A. Lamb chops.

@SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK, @SHACK. SHACK LOVES LAMBCHOPS.

Not very good and quite boring.

I love lamb chops, yummy. Unfortunately this album is nearly as bland as mashed potatoes.

Like Tricky Dick resigning before impeachment, Lambchop should have abdicated the studio before this release.

Possibly the whitest album I’ve ever heard. The kind of shit people listen to after searching pitchfork for “avant-grade music”. Weirdos.

It has a way of making prettiness incredibly tedious and eclecticism offensively bad

Meh. This album bores me. This was considered one of the best albums of 2000? I don't get it. I haven't even listened to albums like Kid A and Stankonia yet, but I already know that those albums are better than this. That's not even taking albums that I have heard into account that I did enjoy more like Figure 8 and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. The sound on this album is fine. I can respect the blend of various genres. Some songs lean more into country elements, others feel more like a chamber pop type thing. The singing is serviceable. The falsetto isn't great, but everything else is alright. The writing doesn't really speak to me. It just feels like words are entering my head and exiting right out. Maybe that's a me problem, but I have seen others call this album unfocused and nonsensical, so I don't think that's the whole truth. The mixing isn't great either. The vocals felt too quiet. Also, what does this album have to do with Nixon? Nothing about this album makes me think of him. Overall, this album really doesn't need to be on here and is just kind of forgettable. 2/5.

What a boring album. Thoroughly disappointed. The album cover looks so good, too, just adding to the disappointment I feel. 4/10 Top 1: 1. The Book I Haven’t Read

Pretty average music, don't like her voice

2.5

this album is interesting insofar as it sounding like an 00s indie version of glen campbell's music - a little like sufjan stevens meets "by the time i get to phoenix" that's where my interest in this album ends. an interesting idea that i don't think is executed well. the songs are sort of whatever and the vocals are not great. i think they missed the part where what makes glen campbell's music great is the arrangements AND his incredible voice. the vocals here are your typical 90s/00s alt "slacker" vocals and they really do not work for me when they are juxtaposed with the intricate arrangements. it makes it sound like your quirky uncle is singing karaoke. what the fuck is up with the vocals on "what else could it be?" ???????? it's like instead of lambchop, they channeled porkchop (from the cartoon Doug) to sing this song. lmao really horrid stuff. he should be banned from singing a falsetto. it's not beautiful or charming or nice. it sounds like a bad cartoon character. crazy. once the falsetto hit, that was the moment i could not take this album seriously at all. the arrangements are nice, but rest of it is lacking and uninteresting at best. sorry, really didn't care for this one.

This is a perfect example of the British authors not understanding anything at all about North American music. Total snoozefest. Never heard of this, don’t know anyone who listens to this artist, they are not on our airwaves. I could barely tell one track from another. It was just so bland.

Not for me. I was bummed out listening to whole album.

Pleasant but boring to me and a bit uninspired and never felt like it got going.

Gentle background music whilst working away, some lush strings in there, but very hard to see why this would be placed above countless other similar albums.

Boring. Every song sounded the same, nothing memorable

2 forgettable

This list is making me fucking tired, i can think of tens of albums that would have deserved a spot instead of this one

Seriously, What The Fuck is This Shit? Sex Pistols, The Cure, Sonic Youth, The Beastie Boys, INXS, The Replacements, Operation Ivy, Sinatra, Pavement, Beck, The Clash, The Beach Boys, Alice in Chains, Bad Brains, Fugazi. All bands with perfect 10 albums. Give me one of them. Not this shit!

Gepflegte Langeweile!

Bland rock is good compared to this album. I disliked this one with all my rock soul!

1/5. It's like if elevator music made love to a self important poet.

Definitely odd singing. Very lax. Second song is groovy. But the rest is horribly boring. I couldn't finish it.

Why would anyone choose to sing in that grating, silly voice?

Yawn.

It felt like I was stuck on hold with a health insurance company for 45 minutes.

Not sure how this made this list...very mundane and wouldn't listen again.

Could make more enjoyable music with a bucket and 2 sticks

I found this album boring. I don't like it.

Is this a prank of some kind? This is an entire album of family sitcom intros.

I don't really 'get' this. I assume it's all about the songs, as the performances seem far too 'cool' / laconic to be about the energy of the band. But the songs didn't really grab me either. Nothing new here, for me. And a terrible name, too.

Makes dishwater feel exciting

This is an album of non songs. It evokes nothing, means nothing, and does nothing. What is this? The wiki says it's the 5th album by this band. How is that possible? Sometimes this list is total shit

This was so boring I actually died. When the paramedics resuscitated me they told me I was the third person that day who'd died of boredom while listening to Nixon.

Calling this alt-country is like calling Metallica alt-disco, which is no comment on the music, just the inanity of the genre designation. As for my comment on the music: too limp and too slight. There are definitely some nostalgic reflexes in here, but I'm not sure what era they're harking back to and I'm not sure Wagner is either.

This sounds like nothing that was going on around 2000. Almost like it should be in the 60s or 70s. It’s weird. Trying to figure out where this fits in the realm of 1001 albums I have to listen to. I feel like countless bands did this better 30-40 years before these guys did this. 1 star because I can’t give it zero.

Wow. This sucked. Like genuinely, this is absolutely atrocious and borderline unlistenable. I found nothing redeeming in this and was relieved when it finally ended after 50 minutes. Too long, too repetitive, the music sucks and the vocals are horrible. Good god, the vocals are so bad. How can you make a song like "You Masculine You" and think you've created art. I'm almost 150 albums deep and this is was the hardest thing to finish save for maybe L'Eau Rouge by The Young Gods. Watergate.

Bored the tits off me

This was surprisingly good. Get the album as a poster

This is so relaxing and pleasant. I visualise all the songs I listen to in my head, and none have produced more joyous imagery than this album.

Wow. Nostalgic magnificent dramatic. Those string arangements tho!

Great album

Beautiful, wistful album, not sure why it's not getting much love on here. Lambchop are new to me - brought to mind slower elements of Super Furry Animals/Gruff Rhys crossed with Grandaddy. You can hear some turn of the century vibes, but overall I found this had a pretty timeless sound.

Masterpiece

Best!

Excellent

9/10 An absolute delight of a surprise. Loved this. Chamber pop country soul, understated and awesome. Lovely production, lots of brass and strings. Best: Up With People

chamber pop and alt-country are genres i love on their own and they sound amazing when they’re combined here

Love this, the “How I Met Cat Power” versions are great too

I'm trying to work out why I love this album so much. When they get into that soulful groove I don't care that his falsetto doesn't fit the mark. When they're getting sad I don't care that he sometimes hits a flat note. I think he might be another Dylan: superb lyrics with a voice that conveys emotion.

This was pleasantly enjoyable

Lambchop es un artista esencial en los 90-00. Con una producción inmaculada, How I quite smoking, Is a woman o este Nixon, son discos realmente buenos. Grumpus fue un merecido éxito y Up with people aún más. Otras gemas son The Old Gold Shoe o Nashville Parent, aunque cualquier tema es único y especial. Otros discos del 2000: COLDPLAY- Parachutes, PJ HARVEY - Stories from the city, stories from the sea, YO LA TENGO - And then nothing turned itself inside-out, THE JAYHAWKS - Smile, EELS - Daisies of the galaxy, THE WATERBOYS - A rock in the weary land, ELLIOTT SMITH - Figure 8, RADIOHEAD-Kid A , U2-All that you can't leave behind, MADONNA-Music , QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE-Rated R , Dakota Suite- Signal Hill, David Gray- White Ladder, Mojave 3- Excuses for travellers, Piano Magic -Artists´ Rifles, D'Angelo- Voodoo, Primal Scream- XTRMNTR, Goldfrapp- Felt Mountain, Death Cab for Cutie- We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, Doves- Lost Souls, Black Box Recorder- The facts of life, Calexico- Hot Rail, Ágætis Byrjun (Sigu Ros), The Sophtware Slump (Grandaddy), The Marshall Mathers (Eminem), Skantonia (Outkast), Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (Godspeed you black emperor!), Since i left you (The Avalanches), The Noise Made by People (Broadcast), The great eastern (The Delgados), The Friends of Rachel Worth (The Go-Betweens), Tourist (St. Germain), Community Music (Asian Dub Foundation), Chore of Enchantment (Giant Sand) y otro monumento en forma de triple álbum como es 69 lovesongs (The Magnetic fields). Hasta Born to Do It de Craig David o A Grand Don't Come for Free de The Streets y Music de Madonna).