Reviews (page 5 of 7)
I mean it’s alright but it’s just so in the background 3/5.
Takes quite a few listens to get into. Some of the songs are quite nice. The album is mostly quiet and soft and does tend to be a bit boring at first, it gets better.
Musically I found this interesting enough, charming even at times. But that strained vocal by Kurt Wagner did nothing for me. I'm a fan of unconventional vocals. But this guy sounds like he revels in the fact that he's not even trying. Fave Songs: Grumpus, You Masculine You, The Distance from Her to There, The Book I Haven't Read
Interesting mix of genres but overall a rather monotonous album that's quickly forgotten
good album.
Country alternativo, soul. Ni fu ni fa.
I had never heard of this band, and as soon as the vocals started on the first track I was like, well, this is gonna be a 2 at best. But the lyrics are great (and often hysterically funny and crass). So I started to think about it like it was Cake and the deadpan talk-singing got easier to take. In the end this album was sort of weird and wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Competently played, but the songs tend to blend together. The singer should stop trying to reach notes beyond his range.
I remember loving a few songs off this album when it came out but was left lost after listening to the whole thing. Twenty odd years have passed and I still feel the same. Some good Americana on here though nothing revolutionary
Didn’t really care for this. Not bad, not good.
There's a clear musical link between this and Leonard Cohen, who was last up. Leonard doesn't do anything for me and yet there's something I like about this album. It feels more thought out, structured and accomplished.
Yee-har.
Haven't heard of the band, quite enjoyable album
Up With People is a 5. The songs that remind me of Beck are okay. Props for naming the band after a Sherry Lewis puppet.
I found this just dull. It wafted past without leaving a mark.Apparently it's 'alternative country'.
Denne har jeg faktisk kjøpt en gang i tiden og hørt en gang. Mye bedre enn jeg husker.
behagelig jobbemusikk men ikkje så mykje meir
Kinda reminds me of Lullaby for the Working Class, except not as sad.
Showgazed tempo and early millennium indie sensibilities coalesce here to craft something easy to listen to but difficult to truly enjoy.
Boring as hell
Something between R&B and soul music, Nixon is a combination of smooth, sweet sounds that act like a balm on your soul. By nature very atmospheric, if you're not in the appropiate mood it can get quite grating after a while, someone adding honey to the cup of tea you were looking forward to drinking bitter. Nevertheless at the right moment it's a pleasant, soothing experience
Pop rock. Suave. Aburridito.
Pleasingly pleasant, after expecting something a lot more shouty with that title.
I'm not sure I've ever heard of the "alternative country" genre, but I suppose it's a fitting title for this type of music. This album was pretty cool. It was a nice blend of weird and melancholy and funny and interesting. You know, staples of the alternative country movement. :)
It's all pretty meh.
I associate Lambchop with bass vocals, so was surprised that most of this record was in falsetto. It’s definitely not what I was expecting, but it felt both a little underdone and a little overdone, in general. I did think that the first song worked really well in its indie rock vibe, I just wish that the rest of the album followed suit.
I was looking forward to this as I knew it was alt-country but had never got round to listening to it. It's actually a bit closer to pop. Up with people is very good but a lot of the album is a bit easy listening. I'm not sure about his falsetto either
It didn’t really grab me, but musically it was fine. Don’t know if I would go back and Re listen but I can see the appeal
Very pretty. Lush orchestral backing. However, some mumbled vocals and a few falsetto curiosities! Reminds me of Sufjan Stevens. Was expecting alt-country not sweet melodic chamber pop/blue eyed soul! A high 3 for its accessibility.
Another new one on me. Good in places
Mellow, in a Sunday morning in Spring, while making pancakes and supping on a fresh coffee kind of mellow. That is before you get to the last couple of tracks that are a bit heavier, like the sediment in your French coffee press, gritty. Could be a grower, an acquired taste.
Nice sound. Really nice. That is the beginning tracks. "Grumpus" has a lovely, flowy feel that was just relaxing. "Up With People" has a fun sound ... but I am always a sucker for brass in songs. But the last 2 tracks of the album really fell off. "Petrified Florist" sounded like the singer was being tortured. "Butcher Boy" was just a flat, unexciting, jumble of sound. Enjoyed. Will look into them some more.
Nice chill sound. My favorites were grumpus and up with the people
I didn't expect this to be such a chill listen
I have not heard of Nixon before. So, this was a first listen for Lambchop. It was okay for me. There was nothing offensive to me, but there was also nothing all that interesting for me. There were a few moments when my ears perked to a catchy musical lick only to have the entire composition just fade into the background.
Maybe this is a slow burn and with a few more listens I would love it. I really loved Up With People from its first hand-claps and thought during the first listen there was another song that I liked a lot. But on the second listen I realized it was just another version of Up With People. The rest was fine but nothing else particularly grabbed me. Nice and mellow though.
Interested album. Heavy Leonard Cohen vibes, but I enjoyed the music a bit more. Not my go-to, but didn't hate it.
Like if Burt Bacharach started doing heroin
Pleasant enough but nothing special. A great example of a 'fine' album, no standout tracks in one way or another and it mostly faded into the background.
I would like to listen to this again
Saw the album cover and the band name, thought "Ohhh a potential metal band?" It was not a metal band. Just fine, is how I think I'd describe this album, didn't really hit it off with me.
This album wasn't at all what I expected, and I still am not sure whether that's a good or bad thing! A pleasant enough listen that I don't think does enough for me to make it a favourite.
I like the classical instrumentation and am very much enjoying the chill vibes of this album. I was initially thinking it might be a 4 for this album, but as it turned out I was not excited enough by any of the songs specifically. It is a strong 3 from me but I am not going to put this album on again any time sun
Found this very weird. The vocals rubbed me the wrong way, and that was even before the super weird supplemental vocals kicked in on some of the songs.
delicate, breathy vocals, spacious yet rich countrypolitan/americana arrangements with lush strings, a reflective, thoughtful album. I'm less keen on the falsetto songs.
Luuugn rock
3.5 Never heard this before and kinda dug it.
Never listened to this before, though I'm familiar with the cover of this album. That said the cover, and perhaps the name had me expecting something a lot closer to early 2000s pop punk and I'm glad that's not what I got.
Now see that's an interesting album. "Up With People" has popped up on some of my other playlists. While I'm not sure it's something I'd turn to regularly, I might put it on again. I liked the layering of tracks, subtle brass and string sections, non-predictable lyrics, and groovy licks. That all makes for an unexpectedly enjoyable album to listen to versus, say, The Triffids. Surprised to learn they were out of Nashville.
I purchased this on the back of the Zero 7 remix of Up With People, a Gilles Peterson staple on Worldwide at the time. None of the record sounded like the remix, of course. But, I liked it, even though it was distant to my tastes. Revisiting it now, it's a very pretty record. Gets better towards the end.
Lots of strings and a very chill vibe throughout, and the singer has a very unique voice that grew on me through the listen. It was good, but mostly background sound instead of something that compelled me to keep listening.
Had potential to be a five star find a la Elbow but never quite got there
alright, kinda makes me feel like an old man 3 or 4 stars because its not bad easy listening just kinda bad in general.
6.95/10
Maybe I wasn't quite doing the album justice. But having it playing in the background, I never felt like it stood out in a positive way at any point. Just pleasant background music flowing along. Sounding more good than bad, but very uneventful. The song that stood out most was the final track. And I didn't particularly like it.
Quite enjoyed it, especially early on
3.5
6/10 listenable but i wouldn't really care to listen again. quality varied wildly between songs
5/10. Fairly boring as best as I could tell
I am not sure what this was. The music is interesting and sweeping at times, though the vocals seems to alternate between a whispering falsetto and spoken word. I actually like the music, though the singing seems to detract from the vibe instead of enhancing it. Still, i don't actually dislike it, so a straight-up 3 seems to fit.
Interesting, would need another listen to really get a grip of it I feel.
Not bad
I enjoyed this album it was a little too mellow but interesting listen. 3.5 stars
Interesante. Música relajada para escuchar mientras hago otra cosa.
Plenty here that’s interesting, but they’d get a higher adjusted r-squared if they removed a few variables. 2.5 stars
leichter, funky sound. Spannendes Konzept-Album mit passender klanglichen Entwicklung über das gesamte Album. Kein Titel der wirklich heraus sticht, aber viele schöne Melodien bei denen meist der Text in den Hintergrund geriet. Den klanglichen Höhepunkt erreicht das Album mit petrified florist. Nicht gefallen sind Gesangsabschnitte mit einer fast Kleinkind artigen Stimme. 3,5
C'était ma dernière critique à rattraper avant celle du mariage de Charles que j'écrirai si tout se passe bien sous Channel Orange.
Album ima ljetnu auru. Mnogo instrumenata se može naći na albumu, a ja mislio da ulazim u nu metal album. Dakle više je bazirano na chamber pop/rocku sa nekim dost dobrim stvarima. Kroz album postoje 2 vrste vokala, skvičavi i normalni, e sad jesu to drugačiji likovi ili jedan lik? Ne znam. You Musculine You, Grumpus, Nashville Parent dost dobre pjesme pogotovo YMY.
emchs tu commences serieusement a me les briser, 3/5
Mieux que ce que j'aurais pensé. Assez doux. Fav : Nashville Parent : ressemble à un son de King Crimson (genre the wind je sais pas quoi) + The butcher boy (live) :jolie !
A pretty album. Easy to listen to, nice compositions, but left little impact on me. The title and cover art imply it's a heavily political album but I ended up sort of drifting away to the sweet melodies. This one is interesting because it's kind of tinged with country/alt-country but it lands on a more pop sound with hints of soul. It's a unique sound and I like how it's developed over time. Reminds me of Magnolia Electric Co., but Jason Molina is untouchable. Lambchop will have to sit comfortably in that shadow.
I would give this another listen.
"The guy on the cross is holier than I But then again he's made from plastic" (The gold old shoe)
3/5
NO lo tengo claro. Es raro
I can appreciate the music of this album and how carefully crafted it is, but it was on the whole maybe a bit too relaxing to listen to.... still kinda good though Favorite tracks: “Up With People,” “Nashville Parent,” and “Butcher Boy”
Muy igual pero ahí masó menos.
ok, this band, and album was one i couldn't get into. it was just trying so hard to to be out there, and trippy for the sake of it, and didn't come off at all well to me. they had like a kind of...elevator music feel to it, and while i didn't outright like it, i didn't hate it either, it just kinda felt like it's great to put on in the background.
Maybe a bit boring for me, but I appreciate the humanity of the music - you can really hear a person in it. By chance, Lambchop happened to drop an album on the day I listened to this - 5/21/21, and the sound and feel are largely the same, except for his more recent embrace of auto tune.
Me terminó gustando
I know of Lampchop from the Mr. M album, which I think I listened to cause of a Pitchfork review. First two tracks on this album I enjoyed, but as it went on some things didn't do much for me. I think I like his voice, but sometimes the falsetto is too much, in small doses I like it but, the way it's used gets a bit annoying.
Not sure what to call the genre. They sing, maybe light mellow pop? Pretty simple guitar/drum backing.
Not bad, kind of forgettable.
for every kinda normal song, there’s 2 songs that have either the lin manuel miranda style of “spoken singing” or a prince-like high note whisper singing. and then there was one song that had some twang to it. i’m a little confused.
I am sure there is a time and place for this music, I just don’t know what that is. I can say that some of the arrangements were well done. The vocals ranged from fine to nails on the chalkboard bad. And it’s boring.
Background music for shopping mals
I remember someone recommended this album to me years ago and I hated it. “Bland and boring,” I thought. Now, on a second listen, years later, I am a bit more open to it, probably through the 1001 albums process of listening to all sorts of shit, and I think I could like it. It’s like an annoying version of Richard Hawley, only with annoying falsetto. Sometimes it sounds like Brett from Flight of the Concords is singing annoying awkward lyrics over the top. (If only it was MEANT to be bad for comic effect!) But it is monotonous in its unrelenting supposed pleasantness. Too soporific for me at the moment, I’m afraid. Maybe In a few years time I might like it… Third times the charm! It gets a little bit distorted at the end. His voice gets more and more annoying. It sounds like a band run by a university lecturer. 2 stars.
Boring
This wasn't what i thought Lambchop sounded like, i was expecting some kind of metal, anyway what i did get was another load of songs that were too long don't seem to go anywhere (call me old fashioned but what's wrong with a verse-chorus middle 8 kinda deal even so often). I might have been more favourable if we didn't have the exact same thing from Mr Turner chums yesterday
I listened to it yesterday, then when it came to writing this review I realised I had no opinion on it as it was so unremarkable. Not a single song stood out, neither was it awful. Hard to justify a 3.
More vanilla than vanilla ice cream.
Middle of the road non-descript - not for me. As background music OK
I started off really hating this but then it got acceptable. No idea why this is on the list.
Nunca había escuchado de esto a pesar de ser 90s. Monótono pero con unos buenos picos
Well, this is not what I thought I would be hearing at all. It's an unexpectedly chill album with someone delivering lyrics in their best Leonard Cohen/David Bowie mashup voice. All I can say is that I found it fine to listen to. Nothing else about it is otherwise worthy of mention or another listen.
dont like it idk why
This did almost nothing for me.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Lambchop; I'm still not sure what to expect from Lambchop.
I wish I liked this more, but nothing really stuck out to me on first listen.
Not much to say. I preferred when they leaned into the Memphis sound more than the Nashville sound, but overall it was fine. I wouldn’t be upset it it played in the background but I probably wouldn’t play it on my own. 2.5 stars
Based solely on the name and track names I was interested… Never judge a book by its cover I guess.
Decent alternative rock and it ends quietly. But there was little there to make me pay attention. Wonderful voice and music. I guess I need to listen to another album by him. 2/5
4.5/10 Best songs: You Masculine You, Up With People, The Petrified Florist, The Butcher Boy One of those albums that make evident the issues with the curation of this list. This album was the fifth album by this (fairly unknown) 90s/00s band which inexplicably got big in the UK. Today, it's an entirely irrelevant album with music that is nothing particularly unique or interesting (and which has been done better - by Wilco, for example). Though a few of the tracks are incredibly strong, most are way too slow and dull, and the lead singer's falsetto (such as in The Distance from Her to There) is excruciating. I really don't know how to rate this one.
dit was saai
This album sort of just happened. No feelings. It was alright I guess. Feeling a forgettable three but two because this does not need to be on the list. A pleasant something to have going while walking around Chicago though.
A slow chill album. Was alright I guess. Best song: Grumpus Notable(s): Butcher Boy
They were some good tracks but overall they weren’t really any stand outs, just a big meh
Nipples
More songs about nothing in particular.
weirdly reminds me of morrissey. at times pretty, and at times bland. 2.5
Boring but not as boring as leonard cohen
Painfully inoffensive and bland
Τι μέσον είχε ο μπρο. Δε μου άρεσαν καθόλου τα βοκαλς, η μουσική κομπλέ αλλά γενικά αδιάφορος δίσκος.
"We hebben nog een muziekje nodig onder dat melancholische moment in onze goedkope drama." "Waar denk je aan dan?" "Iets met gevoel, maar niet teveel. Het mag die matige beelden natuurlijk niet overschaduwen." "Nee, goed punt. Iets van dat album Nixon van Lambchop dus?" "Ja, uitstekend. Maar welk nummer denk je aan?" "Dat is om het even."
Ik blijf het altijd frappant vinden, van die artiesten uit de 90s en 00s waar ik nog nooit van heb gehoord. Natuurlijk, mijn muziekkennis is niet allesomvattend, dat begrijp ik ook wel, maar ik sta er toch keer op keer versteld van hoeveel muziek er is gemaakt, die relatief onbekend is. Zo dus ook dit Lambchop. Ik hoor gelijk al mijn favoriete chamber/dream-pop met een soort stem van Neil Diamond. Maar dan zonder de pakkende deuntjes of teksten, die stadions mee kunnen lallen. Het is kabbelende poprock van het type dertien in een dozijn, met regelmatig een toeter en een viool. De ene keer klinkt de zanger als Neil Diamond, vervolgens als iemand die hese stemmetjes opzet. Het ontstijgt het niveau der middelmatigheid slechts zelden. Ik begrijp niet zo waarom we dit soort muzak continu voorgeschoteld krijgen. Het zit ergens tussen de 2 en de 3 in. Dit hoort wat mij betreft totaal niet in de categorie albums die je ooit gehoord moet hebben, maar gewoon in de inmiddels uitpuilende categorie vergeetbare muziek. Daar kun je complete 25-delige encyclopedien mee vullen.
me recuerda a destroyer pero con menos swag. entiendo cuál era la visión del falsete pero no sé si es algo que vaya a querer estar oyendo xd
Ehhhhhh
I feel like its right around the millennium, there's some puppet show on the TV, and this guy's playing guitar and talking about shapes. It's polished. It's just not facinating.
Lambchop bore the hell out of me. Always have. But their cover of Prince's 'When You Were Mine' is awesome: https://youtu.be/CxGmyLCL7so?si=P3FVUv4mdoC0YJUe
Alright I guess
I like some of the arrangements especially the strings. Musically, this was pleasant. But man, those vocals are WEAK. Like not weak as in bad (except for when he tried a falsetto) just with no power or presence to them. Plus most of these songs could stand to be cut by about a minute cause they go nowhere.
It's nice music generally. I can enjoy it in small doses but I just can't commit to listening to a full album of this style of music unless it's extraordinarily good.
Surprisingly not bad. Blends together, but not in a super sleepy way. I would be pleasantly surprised to hear this in a waiting room. This definitely isn't something you have to hear before you die, though. 2.75 rounded down to 2.
The Old Gold Shoe - 2.5/5 Grumpus - 2/5 You Masculine You - 2/5 Up with People - 2/5 Nashville Parent - 2/5 What Else Could It Be - 1/5 The Distance from Her to There - 1.5/5 The Book I Havent Read - 1.5/5 Petrified Florist - 1.5/5 Butcher Boy - 2.5/5
This album has no emotional heart. It’s beautifully arranged and yet completely and totally empty.
Interesting sound but not for m2
Kinda odd, mellow, lounge music - akin to Shatner but far better singing. Hard to believe this is from 2000.
I've actually lost count of how many boring generic albums I have been given over the last few weeks. Maybe it's because I'm getting close to finishing, or maybe I'm just getting unlucky, possibly even both. But this is just yet another album to add to the collection of albums that I have absolutely nothing interesting to say about, just because I didn't find it remotely interesting to listen to.
Some decent stuff musically, but Christ, that Miss-Piggy-on-helium falsetto is something else.
In what way is this a rock album? As soon as it was over I immediately could not remember what any of the songs sounded like. It is susprisingly bland.
British rock music must have been in an absolute state in the year 2000 for this mediocre record from across the pond to be named one of the best albums of the year. The orchestral arrangements are gorgeous for sure but the singing and lyrics are so bland. Such a strange inclusion on this list.
Sometimes just by listening to an album you can just tell the lead singer is a douche bag. I can't explain why, but this is one of those times.
it never quite gets going, huh? like you think it's going to go bam, and then it just keeps simmering. Why did I get jack johnson/bahamas vibes?
Doesn't sound like a great album
Just listen to Belle and Sebastian.
Could be worse, but it's pretty fucking long and stale.
This just isn’t for me. For those who love it, I’m happy for you!
Lambchop ist ein vielköpfiges Kollektiv aus Nashville, Tennessee, das sich um Sänger und Songwriter Kurt Wagner als beständigem Mittelpunkt organisiert. Nixon, das fünfte Studioalbum der Band, erschien im Februar 2000 in den USA über Merge Records und in Europa über City Slang. Aufgenommen in drei Nashviller Studios – Sound Emporium, The Beech House und Studio 19 – bewegt sich das Album stilistisch zwischen Alternative Country, Chamber Pop und Countrypolitan, jenem durch Bläser- und Streicherarrangements veredelten Südstaaten-Sound der späten Sechziger. Produziert von Mark Nevers und Wagner selbst, versammelt die Band bis zu dreizehn Mitglieder gleichzeitig: Blechbläser, The Nashville String Machine, Keyboards und Schlagzeug verschmelzen zu einem dichten, dabei erstaunlich luftigen Klangbild. Wagners lakonische Baritonstimme, karg im Ausdruck und fast beiläufig im Vortrag, verleiht auch den üppigsten Arrangements eine merkwürdige innere Stille – als wolle er die Orchestrierung absichtlich auf Abstand halten. Die ausgekoppelte Single „Up with People" wurde zum bekanntesten Titel des Albums und erreichte in Großbritannien die Single-Charts, während Nixon dort insgesamt als Durchbruch galt und von zahlreichen Publikationen unter die besten Alben des Jahres 2000 gezählt wurde. Eingerahmt wird das Album vom elegischen „The Old Brown Shoe" und dem Traditionsstück „The Butcher Boy" – zwei Pole, zwischen denen sich Wagners Songwriting mit ruhiger Souveränität entfaltet. Es steht nicht ohne Grund auf der Liste der 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Nixon ist der seltene Fall eines Albums, das trotz aller orchestralen Üppigkeit nie seinen stillen Kern verliert.
it was nice, but i forgot taht i listened to it
No standouts
Snoozefest
I find myself a bit lost for words. It was simultaneously pleasant and annoying. Bland, really. Sorry.
Hard to rate. The highs were quite high, but the lows were quite low. In the end, I think I’ll give it a 2, but it’s a strong one. Could be a 3 if I had time to relisten.
Found this incredibly boring. Most songs just didn't go anywhere and had no energy. Perhaps it's the style but there should be something more memorable or stand out but there's not. I really wasn't a fan of the singing too and at times I wasn't sure what he was trying to achieve.
Some interesting murder songs on here or something. Not the best.
I enjoyed the instrumentation well enough, but the lyrics and vocals didn't do much for me. One comment likened the falsetto to Miss Piggy and now I can't un-hear it. Best tracks: Up with People, and The Petrified Florist
Didn't blow me away, instrumentals are really pleasant, vocals grate more than they please
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.
This was fine! I liked the first couple songs enough but then it started to get a bit boring towards the end. Also was not crazy about the lead singer's voice. But not terrible.
This is such a strange album. I've really struggled to latch onto it in any meaningful way. It's weirdly inaccessible, but not even in an artsy way, just in a kind of annoying way. Much of it is really slow and boring. 'Up With the People' is probably a good song that encapsulates the album as a whole. Despite having all kinds of instruments in there and soulful backing singers, all building into a kind of crescendo - it's still *somehow* bland. That's before you factor in his wafty, nothing falsetto, that later becomes an actively irritating falsetto. It gets two stars because I like the range of instruments, and some tracks are merely ok.
One of the interesting things about Nixon is that despite his reputation as a reactionary conservative, a lot of his first term really built on what the Great Society had already achieved. Efforts like OSHA, the EPA, affirmative action, and support for the ERA continued in a pattern of federal intervention to uphold rights. He even declared that he was ‘now a Keynesian in economics’ after ending the Bretton Woods system, and his efforts in detente went far beyond what Democrats had been willing to consider. Perhaps this reflected the influence of his adviser Daniel Patrick Moynihan (himself a Johnson administration veteran) who argued that ‘Tory men and Whig measures’ were what changed history. Sorry, I realise this is meant to be about Nixon, the Lambchop album, but there really is nothing interesting about it, so had to fill the space somehow.
A strange album. Combining country, soul, and a chamber pop orchestral sheen, this should be a lot more interesting than it actually is. It starts off okay with ‘The Old Gold Shoe’ and ‘Grumpus’, but it quickly becomes apparent that most songs have a similar, lightweight feel; as a result, they largely washed over me. ‘Up with People’ was probably my favourite track, and I also liked ‘What Else Could It Be’ instrumentally, but vocally it was really grating (Kurt Wagner should be permanently banned from singing in falsetto ever again). Very pretty, but rather unengaging. Just under 3 stars.
4.5/10
😴
This went by without leaving much of an impression on me. Chamber pop with an alt-country flair sounds interesting enough on paper. The orchestral arrangements are lush and they are the highlight of the record, it's just a shame that they have nothing to latch onto. The vocals are a mixed bag. Kurt Wagner has a husky, whiskey-soaked voice that serves the music well, its just whenever he does that awful falsetto that I was left wondering what the hell he was trying to achieve here. Apparently this was a breakthrough release for the band in my home country, but I can't say I've ever heard any of these songs before. I doubt I will remember them after listening to them as they just are not memorable in the slightest.
I genuinely do not understand how this album made the list. Must’ve been a slow new music year in 2000. The lead singer’s vocals were droning and obnoxiously grating on me every other song and the music is forgettable. Perhaps it’s because it’s a blend of genres; for that I will give it a (2), but otherwise I hated most of this depressing album.
I was wondering why I never heard of this before and then I listened. Very vanilla background music at best. Completely forgetable
Didn’t really enjoy while listening but think I would if I tried it again. Won’t be rushing to re-listen tho
Not getting much better is it
This isn’t one of my top albums, but it’s also far from the worst thing I’ve heard. It sits somewhere in the middle — decent, but nothing special. Lambchop clearly wanted to make something that feels like classic American soul music, but for me it mostly failed at that. There are a few moments where the songs actually lean into soul territory and work pretty well, but the rest of the album doesn’t really commit. Most tracks are long, slow, and drag on without enough payoff to keep you entertained. The mood is mellow and atmospheric, but after a while it just becomes boring and samey. The instrumentation is nice and the vocals have that soft, lazy charm Kurt Wagner is known for, but the songs rarely catch fire. A couple of tracks stand out enough to make the listen worthwhile, yet the majority feel like they could’ve been trimmed down or given more energy. Overall, it’s an okay record with some soulful aspirations that don’t quite land across the whole project. Not bad, not great — just average. I probably won’t reach for it again anytime soon.
Strings can kill anything, I guess. I didn't last long. The butcher boy tried. The definition of uninspired.
Just could not catch the vibe with this.
Eh. It was pleasant music to do yoga to. Indie Muzak. I can't tell if he's saying anything worth listening to because the whole vibe is so laid-back that he could be singing the phone book and the Bible with similar emphasis. I'm a little curious to read some of his lyrics but only a little.
Until about half way through, I would have rated this LP as average. Then the songs got too long, and towards the end the tone shifted in a weird way. Could have been a lot better woth some quality control.
This in theory could be nice, but nothing stuck. It felt a bit lifeless to be honest. If I need to hear this before I die... Well
Sounds like brunch music
I genuinely don't understand what it was about this album that apparently captured so many critical hearts at the time it was released. The singing is bad (especially the falsetto), the lyrics are faux-profound, the music is forgettable, the energy is low, the songs are almost all too long. If nobody had told me this was some masterpiece I'd have had no idea. Still have no idea, actually.
These guys are weird. Strange and slow music I didn't enjoy. Maybe a song or 2 was catchy. But pretty lame overall
Started fine then got progressively worse
Starts off promising and exciting, ends insufferable and unlistenable. If this is your bag you can keep it. Nothing here for me. Pack it up and on to the next one.
Blind album and artist. Snoozefest until the final track and honestly would've been okay without hearing this I think. 2
It's not terrible... But, what? Why? I didn't need to hear "Nixon" by "Lambchop" before I die. "The Butcher Boy" was the one track that made my ears perk up even the tiniest bit and of course, it was the final and the shortest song on the damn thing.
Yeah, Nothing is trickling down outta this album. I hate Art Pop tho.... Musically its good but the combination of this dudes voice makes it sound like a muppet retrospective tune...
Couldn't get through it, though I expect it would grow on me if I took my time and read the lyrics.
A smooth but directionless listen. I’d never heard of Lambchop before, and this didn’t change much—polished, pleasant, but ultimately a non‑entity. It drifts by without leaving anything to hold onto. Instantly forgettable
263/1089 this cover is intriguing, i like it. however, the first sung line has me immediately out almost some of it feels like Sufjan Stevens but more countryish and without the heart/warmth that i connect to in his music i’ve made it to What Else Could It Be and I really don’t love the falsetto. the instrumentation, however is pretty lovely. it’s kinda giving Lindsey Lohan Parent Trap/The Holiday and it kinda nostalgic for me Petrified Florist was an interesting turn from the rest if the album at least? Butcher Boy single-handedly saved this album for me, so why was it the shortest song? 😭 i would’ve given the album 1 star if not for that 21/100
Alternative country, I like the cover. But i get bored of this monotonous thing.
1.9
Ho hum
Really odd. I have nothing bad to say, but nothing in praise either. Just a very eh record that I will probably not return to.
Don't know what I'm in the mood for today, but it's not this. Apparently it was compared to Pet Sounds when released. I can hear that some of the instrumentation sounds like the song Pet Sounds, but that's about it. Not the tunes, to my ears. Definitely not the singing. I really like Up With People though.
Inoffensive but really boring. High 2.
Never heard of this band, probably for good reason. Slow and boring.
Inessential and boring
Budget Tom Waits. Pass
I’ve forgotten it already. Some songs were nice but mostly I just found they faded into the background. Not a great start back to the list for the first time in months! But there is rather a lot of these mediocre releases after all.
Meh. VERY cool album cover. WARNING - Don't judge an album by its cover. Both of these stars are for the cover, and would make an excellent poster!
sounds nice enough
One of those albums you forget you’re listening to.
Sometimes I hear an album through this project and think "why is this here?" This is one of those times
This album is like an apologetic half-hearted shrug that won't make eye contact. Listening to this was enervating. And I hate his vocal style -- influenced by country and soul, but unable to do either convincingly. There is a Zero 7 remix single of 'Up with People' that charted in the UK (number 66 with a bullet!) which is not radically different to the album version, but does point to possible improvements that could have been made to the production and mix to make this all a bit more interesting. The reissue that I listened to had a live-in-the-studio EP 'How I Met Cat Power' tacked on the end. The more minimalist performances (often just guitar and vocal) were far more compelling to me than the bland, chocolate-box arrangements on the album. I far prefer those versions.
Мало цікавого, але нормально. Лише пісня Butcher Boy мені запам'яталася і сподобалася
Just not for me
Well that was like a child's nightmare
I listened to it and can't remember a thing, besides that it was quite boring.
Boring
Ya know, If this artist/Album is listed on the 1001 albums you should listen to before you die, then I should at least have heard of them!
Boring music, repetitive sounds
*Very slow and thought it was building to something bigger than it got to. The Butcher Boy was a nice crescendo to the tracks, but not enough for me to return to this.
huh? why is this my 500th album
00’s Country ⭐️
OK, but instantly forgettable. ★★
they deserve more stars for their band name rather than for their music. picks: up with people, nashville parent
I tried, I really tried. But nah I can’t get past his voice, i find it clashing with the smoothness of the guitar licks
First Listen; 2; This really didn't do it for me. I was hoping it would be a little more fun or interesting, but nothing really caught my ear or stuck with me. Also, didn't like the weird falsetto singing. Favorite Track: The Butcher Boy
Uninteresting until the very last second, certainly not bad. The Butcher Boy was cool as.
I think I've heard this band, or as least its singer, before, but I can't place it. Otherwise this sounds like an American Belle and Sebastian or Divine Comedy. Some of the instrumental sections I like, the falsetto singing does not do anything for me. What Else Could It Be sounds quite 70s, quite soul. But nothing was interesting, and a lot of the tracks were long and monotonous enough that they bored me.
Some nice vocals but didn’t leave much of an impression on me. Could get better with more listens
Strange album. Has some decent grooves and melodies, but the singing is truly bad. Like startlingly bad. 2/5 Won't listen again
Not my favorite of the Dad Rock on this list.
Not very exciting
It just doesn’t seem to do… anything, really.
Listened to this driving back from Cle at midnight last night, so on one hand, I was able to focus completely on the album; on the other hand, I had to listen over speakers rather than headphones which sucks. My takeaway is that this album was incredibly creative and unique with very engaging and enjoyable instrumentation. The vocals are inexcusable. I see elements of this in Sufjan and other late 2000s early 2010s artists, but the vocals drop this from a 4 to a 1.5 rounded up I guess.
Truthfully, I found this album coast past emotional into maudlin. Occasionally I found it charming (the melodies themselves were nice, but the arrangements were giving Kdrama), but often felt like I was being asked to be emotional over songs that didn't do the work to warrant it. This album bravely asks, "Should these genres be combined?" to which I answer, no, I don't really believe it is of public interest to do so.
I liked the cover art
Singer's voice sounds like he's telling a joke while poking you in the ribs with his elbow, which starts to get grating after the first five seconds. I get the joke, it's not a good one, and it doesn't get any better when you keep repeating it, just mind numbingly boring.
Easy listening music with snark and humor (?) Listened twice, still didn't get it.
This is decent. There were a couple of tracks I enjoyed and some I didn't. This record isn't very memorable. Favourite Track(s): Grumpus, Up With People Least Favourite Track(s): You Masculine You
Nix
Not my thing. Don't like country and soul sounds.
Helt greit album, men litt kjedelig? Skjønner ikke hvorfor dette er med på lista, uansett grunn til å like dette finnes det noe mye bedre fra andre artister.
I don't want to say this is bad, exactly, but yikes it did nothing for me. It's the sort of thing I'd expect to be played at a reasonable volume in a mid-tier restaurant. Forgettable background music, is what I mean. I won't be coming back to it, that's for sure.
ме ні то щось
For a lot of this album, I was thinking about this quote I read on Wikipedia that some critics had called this album the "'Pet Sounds' of the 2000's." And I should say, that's not an assertion I take lightly. 'Pet Sounds' is one of the most beautifully orchestrated albums I've ever heard! So if people are gonna go and compare you to that record ... woof, you've got some expectations to live up to. And not just that, actually; I'll probably also have 'The Soft Bulletin' in mind — the "'Pet Sounds' of the 90's." Now that's an album that more than lives up to that label! And about halfway through, I came to the obvious conclusion that this wasn't exactly fair to the music. How could it be? I'm comparing it to albums I already love and have accepted as two of the best albums ever made. Nothing could compete unless it was immediately as amazing, straight from the jump. No doubt, it was having an impact on how much I was enjoying this thing. I felt like I could've been enjoying it more, and this was obviously the reason. So, take that "'Pet Sounds' of the 2000's" line, toss it away, take this album on its own merits. And once I do that, I should be enjoying this album a lot more than I was. I should be. I should've been. I didn't. 'Coz I gotta be real: with or without that comparison, this is the most disappointed in an album I've been in a **long** time. I wanna start with the positive: the orchestrations on this thing can honestly, actually be beautiful. You take the strings in a track like "The Book I Haven't Read", and, like, damn, is that not legit? It's stuff like this that can honestly make me understand that comparison. In moments like this, it's so close to matching that atmosphere of beautiful melancholy that I love 'Pet Sounds' and 'The Soft Bulletin' for. If this album could've consistently maintained this atmosphere, I honestly would've put it up there with those other two. Yet, it doesn't, for some simple reason: this guy's gawdamm voice. If there's anything one element that kills this album, it's this singer. Oh, I can just tell he thinks he's so good, what with how he keeps hitting that falsetto in songs. But I would've been the first tell him, he does **not** have a good falsetto. I don't even have exactly the words to describe how it's so bad; it's just ... incredibly distracting in how bad it is. Seriously, there are 13 people in this band, and no one could've told him he wasn't good at this? And it's not like his regular singing voice is much better. Hell, it only succeeds in how nondescript it is. Like, I seriously couldn't even begin to be assed to follow along with these lyrics, 'coz, goodness, I couldn't listen to either of these voices. But if a fellow group member was anything to believe, I wasn't missing anything except a buncha nonsense anyway! It's such a jarring clash of tones. These beautifully thought-out strings, next to these truly awful awful vocals... I legit spent a lot of this album tryna figure out why I wasn't jiving with this thing. 'Coz it's not like it's even a **bad** album. I'll say it again: those strings an' shit are legit. Frankly, if this had been a purely instrumental album, I think it legit would've been a lot better. But because they insisted on having these vocals... Feankly, they make the whole project feel like hipster shit. Between these "OOO I'M SUCH GOOD AT SOUL" vocals and this album cover and that gawdamm title. "'Nixon'." Goodness. What the hell does it even mean? Do they even know? Honestly now. Like, I guess in total it's not the **worst** thing I've ever seen the Nixon name attached to — the man himself still clears by a mile. But, oh, this could have been so much better. This vocalist is not a crook ... but damn. He sure feels like one.
An adequate representation of mellow rock, I surmise. I do not judge you if that’s what you’re into. But not really my vibe.
I don’t know what just happened.
Someone asked me how today's album was and my response was "eh? Kinda slow and mumbly". There's nothing wrong with this one but there's not a whole lot going on with it either. It's just fine, not really for me.
Some of the longest five minute songs ever.
That falsetto was painful
5/10 - A few good songs but overall not an album I see myself going back to. I felt very neutral about this album.
I don't love his vocals and I thought the album was a bit boring. 4/10
Very sleepy, but not all bad. The singer sounds like he's going for Leonard Cohen but coming up with Kermit the Frog.
Not my thing
Thought the first song was interesting and had me thinking this may not be too bad. As it continued seemed to get a little less interesting to the point it was just background music. Was not terrible, but just not for this listener. I did find the lyrics to Nashville Parent pretty interesting. "He can take that stupid grin and decapitate a rodent or a mouse." WTF is that? 2
2.5 For some reason I thought I had heard of this band or album before and was anticipating to hear rockabilly music. This is not that. I have no idea what I was thinking of, but that’s to say, I was caught very off-guard by the first track, The Old Gold Shoe. Fortunately, I kind of dug it! While it’s admittedly melodramatic (almost to a fault), there’s a lush sort of instrumentation to it that I appreciated, and I thought Lambchop’s vocals complemented nicely (I think Lambchop is actually the name of the band, not the singer, but I’ve decided this is the reality I want to live in). Overall, it had a great introductory sort of quality to it, so I was looking forward to the album REALLY kicking in with the next track, and… then it just never did. Yeah, every single song on this album sounds like the first one. I know I just gave it some praise and all, but an entire album’s worth of that sound starts to grow old quickly, especially when each track averages about five minutes long, to the point where I found myself wanting to resign before I had finished, much like the titular president. There really are no bad songs, but the experience as a whole is just too much of the same thing for one sitting. The best part of this album? The guy’s voice. The worst part? When the same guy attempts falsetto. I still don’t really understand what “chamber pop” is, but I think I know enough to know it’s not for me - just a little too overblown for my taste. If you ask me, Bright Eyes did it best with False Advertising. And with all due respect to Lambchop, calling your album “Nixon” does not evoke thoughts of good music - though it certainly beats having to read headlines pertaining to a certain other embarrassment of a president.
It's ok.
Bored 🥱
Bland album with a country twinge
Bit over produced was my feel and a little bit bland. The country tinged parts are better done by artists such as Bill Callahan. Not really a fan of this
? easy faster pop...c
This list confuses me more every day. Clearly my musical palette is not sophisticated enough to appreciate the selections. Either that or we’re being punked.
Chamberpop? Countrypolitan? Have I lost my grip? They made those genres up, right? This felt more like a pop art piece than actual music. Sherri Lewis on Peyote.
Just really boring.
Boring
I see why people like it but I just find it too boring
Fast losing patience with this insipid style of music.
I like some of the slide guitar and brass, some or the baselines. Quite bored though tbh.
2.5
I can tell this was crafted with love and care, but it comes across as just unbelievably dull
I cannot get past the vocal on this album sorry.
2.3/5 I was expecting some alternative Rock or Metal looking at the album cover and name... what I got was washed down, boring pop music. Not as boring and bland as some other pop music, but still not exciting. I can't really say anything else about it cuz it's very forgettable.
Slow and dull
Forgettable.
Didn’t like or dislike. Just listened and moved on.
This should be my thing. But it's not. It feels like an American version of Elbow, but without the singalongs
I could find 1001 albums made in 2001 that were better than this
This is alright, the songs are fine, there are some decent lines, and the production is well done. But this album is operating around an indie-niche with so many great albums that I can afford to be a little picky. The sound here reminds me of Destroyer moreso than anyone else, it's pretty much exactly what I think of when I hear the phrase "adult alternative". The components here are largely good, it's just that they aren't combined in an especially inspired way. Honestly I thought this was just kind of boring, if fairly pleasant. But there are so many indie/alt-country/alternative albums that are more interesting and memorable than Nixon that I struggle to put it on the list of recommendations.
Elevator music.
2.5
Nice soft rock but not incredibly memorable...
Not really for me- the songs were too sappy (bordering on maudlin) and nothing really stood out as a hit. The voice and instrumentation were both nice, but the tone and subject werent for me. Overall- just okay
Getting Belle & Sebastian vibes from a lot of this. Which is fine, but the vocalist is also trying to do this higher pitched voice which really does not work for him. He should’ve stuck to a lower register tbh. Also, a lot of these songs sound very similar. 2 stars.
I.. nah, I'm sorry that sort of nostalgia-sad-pop just isn't for me
Was not able to get into this one at all.
Ohh det er svært. Fordi det er virkelig skidt størstedelen af albummet, nok til at jeg blev sur. Men der var altså også et nummer hvor jeg tænkte det var en fed indie vibe. Selvom jeg har haft albummet hele weekenden, så fik jeg ikke lyst til at finde af af hvilket nummer som var godt, derfor må det være under middel.
Det er virkelig mærkeligt. Også lidt dragende. Men mest bare weird. Har lidt en Kings of Convenience feel.
Millenium Pop.
Not my thing
Nice and gentle, unobtrusive alt country with a bit of jangle, not that much twang really, and a lot of pretty indiepop inspired songwriting and production. It's atmospheric, laid back, a bit dreamy, and easy going stuff that's not especially original or as far as I know influential or iconic of a time/place, so not sure why it's included really.
It's decently done, but fairly boring. I was worried about the country aspect of the description because there's only about 3 country artists I like and that's because they don't sound super country. This doesn't sound country to me. Good! Some bits sound a little like Vic Chesnutt (who I adore!) but fail to bring the humor or energy. It's like worn wallpaper in a beige house. It's fine. But it's not interesting. His voice is fine, but his falsetto is annoying. Luckily he doesn't do it too much. "Distance From Her to There" is the worst, both falsetto and country-ish steel guitars on a Motown-ish vibe. Weird in a bad way! I do like some of the horns and chorus bits. "The Butcher Boy" has the most energy and isn't bad. But it can't save me from my boredom. Probably a 2.5, but I'm rounding down on this one.
I’d never heard of the album or band, but I thought I might like this - the album art is nice, and i figured it’s probably some flavor of indie - I didn’t, really. I’m having a hard time putting into words why that is; it feels too “weak,” somehow, and a little irritating, like it never builds up to anything. Each track is also too long, as is apparent right away on the first track (The Old Gold Shoe). Didn’t start off on the right foot, I guess. The Petrified Florist 2.5?
No private session used for Spotify. Seemed like another ok one for listening to in the morning on a business trip. I don't recall Lambchop, but I do recall Grumpus. This album was groovy, but I didn't care for his voice, especially when the falsetto.
Ne znam šta bih rekla za ovo, čudan album. Kao u pozadini čujem kul stvari, ali sve skupa mi dosta lejm zvuči. A vokal užas. Mixed feelings. 2/5, 4/10
As a white person, this sounds like what people would probably call "inoffensive white people music". Chill, but very forgettable. Will not intentionally revisit, but if I heard these songs again I probably wouldn't recognize them.
It's Monday and I don't remember this from Friday.
I don't think I understand what I just listened to. It's all over the place style-wise. Sometimes twangy, sometimes adult contemporary, sometimes a weird soul experiment.
Wasn’t feeling this one. One or two tracks had an interesting idea, but nothing felt complete.
Found this to be twee and schmaltzy and I've no earthly idea, either from listening to it or reading about it, why it was included in the book. Utterly forgettable and dull.
aight
p866. 2000. 2 stars. Boring background music for hipster bars, saved from 1 star by decent lyrics. Once heard, immediately forgotten.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or the album. While this seems like an interesting concept--country with influences of soul and jazz--I didn't really care for this too much. I will not listen again.
Chill but not for me. I feel it would be a good album to sleep to, personally i need a little more energi
boring
it's not bad, just really boring
Boring album with absolutely nothing special about it. 4/10
On the dull side of ambient.
If this list has taught me anything about myself….I don’t like song longer than 4 minutes. These are LIL ditties if I’ve ever heard one! No reason to drag all these songs to 5+ minutes. Is this guy the brother of the author or something? Bonus star cuz I love the album cover.
Feel bad about giving it a 2 stars because I didn’t exactly dislike it but I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. Has no business being on any lists of any albums though
another Friday listen that I have forgotten by Monday... i remember it being aight.
It was alright, but honestly a bit boring. I liked some songs or parts of songs, but I don’t know why this is an album I must listen to.
Its not that I dislike the album, I just find the random use of falsetto a little off-putting when the rest of the album is sung at such a low tone. The music was solid, just overall the album wasn't for me and I don't fully understand the significance of it. I'm somewhere between a two and three, but I'm rounding down.
Didn’t get past first song. Not a fan.
This was like hearing paint dry.
When he goes falsetto, I just see a muppet.
Don’t dig the vocals - either the boring dude or the Miss Piggy (though picturing Miss Piggy singing these songs made it marginally better). I’d never heard of this band so was excited to try something new. It looks like my excitement was premature. Couldn’t get through it, which would render it a 1, but I could see they were trying to do some interesting stuff, so a 2
The songs are so long. It's kinda mellow.
Kinda shit
Don’t really even know what I was listening to. It’s literally just there. I agree with the one review. Passed by and wasn’t even sure I heard it. Because it was so unexciting.
I don't even know what to make of this. I actually really liked some of the middle tracks - reminded me of Badly Drawn Boy. But it was bookended by such weirdness. What is this and why is it here???
When the Wikipedia entry said "American rock band, Lambchop," I took that to mean that Lambchop was a rock band. My bad. Really, there's not a ton of difference between this and Bill Callahan. Callahan's record has a sparser production, which I like, and, to me, his voice is more interesting. The easy-listening style orchestral production on this record is just hard for me to sit with for very long.