Nixon

**Album Review: Nixon by Lambchop** *Released:* February 7, 2000 *Genre:* Alternative Country, Indie Rock *Label:* Merge Records *Producer:* Mark Nevers, Kurt Wagner **Introduction** "Nixon," Lambchop's fifth studio album, stands as a hallmark of modern alternative country and indie rock. Blending intricate musical arrangements with introspective lyrics, the album showcases Lambchop's evolution under the creative vision of frontman Kurt Wagner. This review delves into the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, providing a balanced analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. **Lyrics** Kurt Wagner’s lyrics on "Nixon" are a tapestry of poetic imagery and mundane observations. His storytelling is subtle, often weaving complex emotions into everyday scenarios. For instance, in "The Old Gold Shoe," Wagner juxtaposes domestic life with existential musings, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive. The lyrics often require multiple listens to fully appreciate their depth and nuance. *Pros:* - Poetic and richly detailed lyrics that offer depth and require contemplation. - Effective use of imagery and metaphor to convey complex emotions. *Cons:* - The abstract nature of some lyrics might alienate listeners seeking straightforward narratives. **Music** Musically, "Nixon" is a lush, genre-blending masterpiece. The album combines elements of country, soul, jazz, and pop, resulting in a sound that is both eclectic and cohesive. The opening track, "The Old Gold Shoe," sets the tone with its orchestral arrangement, featuring strings, horns, and a gentle groove that underpins Wagner’s vocals. Tracks like "Up With People" showcase a more upbeat, soulful vibe, complete with a gospel choir that adds a layer of exuberance to the album. *Pros:* - Rich, multi-layered arrangements that blend various genres seamlessly. - Use of orchestral elements adds depth and sophistication to the sound. *Cons:* - Some tracks may feel overproduced to listeners who prefer a raw, stripped-down sound. **Production** Produced by Mark Nevers and Kurt Wagner, "Nixon" is a meticulously crafted album. The production quality is pristine, with every instrument and vocal part occupying its own space in the mix. The attention to detail is evident in tracks like "The Book I Haven’t Read," where subtle sonic textures enhance the listening experience. The use of reverb and echo gives the album a spacious, almost cinematic quality. *Pros:* - High production values that highlight the album’s intricate arrangements. - Creative use of studio effects to enhance the overall sound. *Cons:* - The polished production might detract from the album’s organic feel for some listeners. **Themes** "Nixon" explores themes of everyday life, love, loss, and the passage of time. Wagner’s lyrics often reflect on the mundane aspects of existence, imbuing them with a sense of importance and beauty. The album also touches on social and political themes, though these are more subtly integrated into the personal narratives. For example, "Up With People" can be interpreted as a commentary on collective action and hope. *Pros:* - Thoughtful exploration of universal themes through a personal lens. - Balance of introspective and socially aware lyrics. *Cons:* - The subtlety of the themes might make them less accessible to casual listeners. **Influence** "Nixon" has had a lasting impact on the alternative country and indie rock genres. Its blend of orchestral arrangements with traditional country elements has influenced numerous artists and bands. The album is often cited as a benchmark for its innovative approach to genre-blending and its sophisticated production. *Pros:* - Significant influence on subsequent alternative country and indie rock music. - Recognition as a groundbreaking album in its genre. *Cons:* - Its distinct style may overshadow other works within Lambchop’s discography for new listeners. **Track-by-Track Analysis** 1. **The Old Gold Shoe** - **Lyrics:** Reflective and introspective, exploring themes of routine and change. - **Music:** Orchestral arrangement with strings and horns, creating a rich soundscape. - **Production:** Layered and polished, highlighting each instrument. 2. **Grumpus** - **Lyrics:** Abstract and surreal, with a focus on personal dissatisfaction. - **Music:** Jazzy influences with a prominent bassline and intricate guitar work. - **Production:** Clean and balanced, allowing the complexity of the arrangement to shine. 3. **You Masculine You** - **Lyrics:** Gender roles and personal identity are examined with subtlety. - **Music:** Slow, soulful groove with a prominent piano melody. - **Production:** Warm and inviting, with a focus on the vocals and piano. 4. **Up With People** - **Lyrics:** Uplifting and hopeful, possibly alluding to collective action. - **Music:** Soulful and upbeat, featuring a gospel choir. - **Production:** Vibrant and dynamic, capturing the energy of the choir. 5. **Nashville Parent** - **Lyrics:** Intimate and personal, exploring familial relationships. - **Music:** Melancholic and subdued, with gentle acoustic guitar and strings. - **Production:** Minimalist and delicate, emphasizing the emotional weight of the lyrics. 6. **What Else Could It Be?** - **Lyrics:** Ambiguous and introspective, questioning purpose and meaning. - **Music:** Slow tempo with a focus on melody and atmosphere. - **Production:** Spacious and echoing, creating a contemplative mood. 7. **The Distance From Her To There** - **Lyrics:** Descriptive and narrative, focusing on separation and longing. - **Music:** Upbeat rhythm with a prominent bass and lively horn section. - **Production:** Crisp and clear, with each instrument well-defined in the mix. 8. **The Book I Haven't Read** - **Lyrics:** Intellectual and reflective, dealing with themes of knowledge and regret. - **Music:** Slow and soulful, with a lush arrangement of strings and piano. - **Production:** Rich and immersive, enhancing the emotive quality of the track. 9. **The Petrified Florist** - **Lyrics:** Abstract and poetic, with a focus on decay and beauty. - **Music:** Minimalist arrangement with delicate guitar and subtle percussion. - **Production:** Sparse and airy, allowing the lyrics to take center stage. 10. **The Butcher Boy** - **Lyrics:** Traditional folk narrative, dealing with themes of love and loss. - **Music:** Simple acoustic arrangement, staying true to its folk roots. - **Production:** Clean and unembellished, emphasizing the storytelling aspect. **Overall Pros and Cons** *Pros:* - **Lyrics:** Deeply poetic and rich in imagery, offering layers of meaning. - **Music:** Innovative blend of genres with sophisticated arrangements. - **Production:** High-quality and meticulous, enhancing the listening experience. - **Themes:** Thoughtful exploration of universal and personal themes. - **Influence:** Significant impact on alternative country and indie rock genres. *Cons:* - **Lyrics:** May be too abstract for listeners seeking straightforward narratives. - **Music:** Some tracks may feel overproduced to those preferring a raw sound. - **Production:** The polished nature might detract from the organic feel. - **Themes:** Subtlety in themes might make them less accessible. - **Influence:** Its distinct style could overshadow other works by Lambchop for new listeners. **Conclusion** "Nixon" by Lambchop is a landmark album that continues to resonate within the alternative country and indie rock scenes. Its blend of intricate musical arrangements, introspective lyrics, and high production values make it a compelling listen. While its abstract nature and polished production might not appeal to everyone, the album's influence and artistic achievements are undeniable. Lambchop’s ability to weave complex emotions and everyday experiences into their music ensures that "Nixon" remains a timeless and impactful record.

Nixon is a really strange and unusual album, at its best it's properly groovy with great orchestral arrangements bringing a quality vibe, at its worst though it's like a poor Simply Red effort, and that is unacceptable. The good parts certainly aren't memorable enough to warrant a good score, but it was at least an interesting listen, if only from a 'wtf comes next?' perspective. An easy listening 2, which isn't so much of a compliment as it is a disappointment.

This is a bit mad, they mash up so many styles and genres across the 10 tracks that it's very difficult to know where to place it. It's almost every different flavour of easy listening, and thus ends up being a bit hit and miss. Think it's marginally more hit than miss, though it never really hits massively well and does sometimes miss really badly. Squeaks a low 3, I think.

This was a very enjoyable listen. A weird combination of country , orchestral and I am not sure what else. Vocally I picked up on a Lou Reed vibe , especially on the opening track. Overall the album was well produced with really good arrangements throughout. I could describe it as enjoyable monotony but that's being a bit unfair, it's worth a listen .

This… isn’t bad as a whole. But the dude’s weird, strained falsettos and other vocal indulgences make it hard to listen to at times.

Lost interest half way through

it starts much stronger than it finishes

Mellow and enjoyable but for me not too memorable.

Oikein mukavaa musiikkia ei tule miettineeksi aikakautta tai genreä.. Kuuntelee vaan menemään ja ei kuullosta liiaksi vanhentuneelta.. kuten vuoden 2012 Fujifilm kamera X-Pro 1 joka toi markkinoille uuden bajonetin, jossa elon muskin lempi kirjain. Heh.

Pleasant enough indie rock album that’d I’d be open to listening to againn

This was alright but didn’t really do anything for me

Really really hate his falsetto. 1.3

This was okay but then immediately went to a one when he started singing in his baby voice

Nearly embarrassing to listen to. Some of the music was just ok. Some really bad.

Favourite song - You masculine you

Up with people Grumpus Butcher boy

Very golden oldies, with a light country feel. It's okay, I just feel like I understand it after two tracks, and it doesn't do much after that. Favorite track: "Up With People"

Most of this sounded like dentist office music. Not appealing at all.

Best Song: Up with People. The choral sections did a lot to take over from the otherwise lackluster main vocals. That combination of a sort of gospel with the trumpets was really nice. Worst Song: The Distance from Her to There. Cut it with that falsetto, goddamn. Overall: Largely uninteresting, although occasionally dipping into annoying. The vocals seemed to be both the focus of the album and its weakest part. I think I can understand why this one was lost to time.

Today I discovered a "new" band that I really like! I like how this album meanders, almost aimlessly, from beginning to end. solid 3.5

I wouldn't call this bad music but it wasn't for me. I found the lead singers voice to be distracting and the music kind of faded to the background.

Pleasantly surprised with this one. Calm and dreamy the album passed by quickly and worked great as something to listen to while I was doing some stuff. I really like it's combined genres. Not the most unique or attention grabbing but it was solid.

Gepflegte Langeweile!

Kinda reminds me of Father John Misty in vibe, so naturally I enjoy it.

2.5 stars. Meh, it was OK. Slow tempo and kinda ballad-y alt-country/chamber pop. "Up with People" was different and pleasant but the rest wasn't much to write home about.

Such a unique sound

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

Meh. Wasnt great. Not terrible though. More like background music.

Hey, I like this.

Wel oke maar saai

Not much stood out to me here. It didn't strike me as very provocative or interesting, nor was it compelling as background music

Interesting, but unfocused.

Really digging this! Never listened to Lambchop, but it reminds me of Bill Callahan and some of Jim O'Rourke's more mainstream stuff.

One stand out track I knew from before, pleasant background music

"Monochrome" is the best word I've found to describe this album. It's full and lush and definitely sets up some other UK artists down the line in the Alternative area, but it's like watching a 1950's black and white movie in the modern era

Très meh

This is a band whose name has come up in conversations before but I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to their music. Singer Kurt Warner’s vocals are impressive and all over the place dynamically. Im a fan of his quickly lyrics too. The orchestral arrangements are beautiful and really well thought out. Nothing on this album seems unnecessarily placed just for the sake of having layers, it all has a musical purpose. The production, engineering and mixing are all top notch on this album. I’m excited to explore Lambchop’s weird world some more with future listens.

Never heard of this guy, so no expectations here. This is a real mellow album. Grumpus is giving some Mac Demarco vibes. I like the soft horns throughout the album, kind of like Sufjan Stevens' Illinois. Of course, this album came before that. This is good background music, super chill, so I'll check out the rest of his catalog. I like the music, but his vocals are whatever. He has no business singing, so it's ballsy that he does it. Good for him for doing what he loves. Up With People is my favorite.

I saw that these guys were on Merge; ever since Neutral Milk Hotel, anytime someone recommends an artist from Merge, I've always been pleased. The supple sounds of Lambchop are soothing and reminiscent of art rock, chamber orchestras, and at times, TSOP (The Sound Of Philly) à la "Me & Mrs. Jones." The end of the album moves a bit towards psyche rock with a thumping bassline that would fit with The Munsters theme song. Interesting find. I'm surprised and happy to see this one on the list. It shows someone is mining these smaller labels for gold.

I liked the retro vibe and arrangement of the instrumentation.

Never heard of this, but the album was interesting and laid back, and I could see how Brits might like it. Interesting string arrangements also that made me wonder how it gets done live. Grumpus was cool but the album ultimately didn't really grab me.

Not the worst. Not really my style but very musical.

A pleasant enough album with a few exciting bits, but most passed by as nice enough background music

This is not my thing for sure. Didnt like any song although producing wise the album is good and makes sense.

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

The singer and lyrics are incredibly annoying, and the instrumentals are fairly uninteresting. "Up with people" is decent.

It alright 👍

Not for me. I didn't like this.

Ein bisschen jazzig finde ich ganz schön

Who is this music for? Operatic Alt fusion soul with William shatner Style country lyrics. I literally don't get it.

Like the music, not so much the singing.

A bit too mellow

They really do be letting any album onto this list - melodies were pretty good, the vocals were horrendous

I like these upbeat depression tunes, they sound sweet but leave me feeling more sad than I was before. I am drawn to music like that.

It feels like there are too many unnecessary sounds and songs behind them you can’t hear. 1/5

När jag hörde rösten tänkte jag, "det här kan bli bra". Men fy satan vilken tråkig skiva. Slöseri. Trist etc

Aldrig hört talas om tidigare. Snurrade i högtalarna exakt hela dagen igår och i början fungerade den som rätt trevlig bakgrundsmusik men inte så mycket mer än så. Plockade efter ett tag upp ett par låtar som jag tycker stack ut lite (Up with people, Nashville parent och What else could it be). Sammanfattningsvis en helt okej skiva men som jag inte tar med mig så mycket ifrån och sannolikt inte lyssnar på igen. Svag trea.

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

Sorprendente pero me ha aburrido un poco. 3'5 redondeando pabajo

Vond het best leuk. Niet bijzonder ofzo, maar fijne stem en gitaar was erg goed hierop. Hij ging daarna terug naar het eerste nummer, maar 1 keer is wel genoeg kwam ik toen achter. 3 sterren

Reminds me of '64 go

Agradable, nada más.

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

I remember actually buying this album on the strength of one song, and then never really listened to it again, so I'm happy to give it another chance as I've grown older. Oh I know why I didn’t listen to it, it sucks. It sounds incredibly old fashioned in a bad way, it’s full of 70s cheese that’s long since gone bad. The songs are slow boring burns. Even the occasional witty lyrics get drowned in uninteresting schmaltz. This album sucks

Actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

Meh!

This is okay

Interesting, never heard of but kinda liked

It's ok but not much to write home about. I guess if you had to be there at the time for it to gain a foothold. It's too blah to me i'm afraid.

La musique est parfois vraiment intéressante. Une sorte de chamber pop contemporain vraiment intéressant. Mais généralement cet album est tellement ennuyeux. Ce qui rend cela vraiment peu intéressant est la voix. Littéralement ça serait plus captivant si c'était instrumental. La voix semi-parlée semi-chantée, combiné aux paroles durent à déchiffrer, rend l'écoute vraiment fastidieuse. C'est encore pire quand il chante aigu. 3/10

Snooze fest

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.

Weird… is this like a one man band?

Listened to this while playing Revive solo. I lost. I had a friend I met at Burning Man that loved this band and other bands with a country twang and a vocalist with "unique" characteristics. I really wanted to get into it to, because we shared a lot of music back and forth. It just never resonated with me the same way it did with him. I was hoping time would have changed things...and it did...but not very much. I was ready to give this album a 2, but I loved the final two songs, so it definitely gets bumped to a 3.

There's word I've always loved: ersatz--an inferior substitute. When Bon Jovi achieved the appearance of rocking, without an actual rocking, what they achieved was ersatz rock. Calculated, drained of humanity, reminding us that we can return to our torpor if only a manufactured need is met. Bon Jovi himself said they rushed in when Van Halen broke up. Van Halen, a lot of things, but not ersatz with the classic line-up and that six album run. I'll die on this hill... Anyway, whatever Lambchop's intentions with Nixon, it is undermined with the ersatzness of the approach. Aiming for the sublimity of Pet Sounds and any number of classic Bacharach sides, avoiding the druggy wooze of Love's Forever Changes, it feels twee by two and a half. When Air released Moon Safari, with its vintage electronica and chamber pop arrangements, it showed how the styles of the past can find a relevant and vital home in the present--an actual progression for the form. This ain't that. If you like the form so much, you'll settle for the cheese food version, then have at it. I'll stick to aged cheese, and wait for the next innovation.

What the hell is going on with the vocal mix on some of these tracks? The weird falsetto just completely getting lost in the onslaught of orchestral strings just did not connect with me. Or maybe it was just my speakers? I think my biggest gripe is the level of inconsistency in tone. In one verse, you've got pretty strange mixing with an overload of synths, but then on the next turnaround, you've got dark, fuzzed out guitars complimenting a poppy, country backbeat, which was great. But hey, it's nice to get something unfamiliar for the first time in a while on this list.

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

Could not get through this album.

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

Interesting mood I guess

Kind of boring

Boring but an alright vibe

This album feels just a bit all over the place, enjoyable in parts, sonically enjoyable in parts more so the chamber pop sound, than the country parts. Been swaying between a 2 and a 3 with this one, but although I did enjoy parts of the album, not convinced you really need to hear it better you die or I’ll be recommending it to anyone, so only the 2 stars.

After hearing Nixon, all i can say is \"Man, this album is so chill\". The songs mostly did follow the same format but that format was really nice to hear. That also made the songs with more of a drive (Grumpus and The Butcher Boy being clear examples of this) really stick out more and made them feel more memorable. My only real complaint with this album is the song Up With People really felt underproduced but other than that, i feel this was a great album that's definitely worth a listen. Best Song: The Butcher Boy Worst Song: Up With People

Boring.

Surprisingly good. I sometimes feel like I am hearing Pink Floyd one ment, and Jamiraquoi the next. I would rarely listen to either of those two, but is somehow works here.

This album slowly grew on me over the course of my listen. Something about the instrumentation and composition I found really pleasing even though this not usually a style I would enjoy.

I didn't care for this one, although I'll give it some credit for doing something interesting. It's an alternative take on a sound I don't generally care for, and I probably prefer this take, but still, no. 1.5/5

boring but pleasant. very long songs but some nice moments... it feels good to listen to.

What a bunch of lame navel gazing crap this was. Cramming words into a song because they rhyme is not song writing and a dead man could elicit more life from a guitar.

Not my taste, but weird..some baritone guy sing talking for an hour. Some of the instrumental sections were interesting, with heavy trumpet use. Weird…

Alternativ country, chamber pop

Very soft and silky while also relatively engaging. I was thrilled that it wasn't a boring listen. Seems like fancy dinner music.

This was okay. Some of the instrumentation could be quite lovely at times, but the vocals didn’t do much for me.

Songs ranged from boring to actively unpleasant

Notable tracks: Basically all of it

first listen this is so interesting and artistic and warrants another listen

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

Pleasant

I think I'd b rather listen to Shari Lewis's Lambchop.

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.

Country alternativo, soul. Ni fu ni fa.

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

Felt like coffee shop music but the lyrics were kind of hard to discern even though that’s supposedly what the singer is famous for.

It was a hodgepodge of genres - not all that bad but I just couldn’t get on board.

So dull. What was that?? How is that something everyone must listen to. It wasn't bad, but was so hard to tell if it was good as it was instantly forgettable. 2.5*

I forgot this group existed and I'm more familiar with an older album, the hilariously named Thriller. This one is very easy to listen to. Standouts for me are the very RnB feeling Grumpus and You Masculine You. A lot of it feels like spoken poetry over chamber music and I think that is on purpose. I do appreciate horns and vibraphones getting some love.

Interesting album. Sounds older than it is.

Lambchop has never truly resonated with me, but it's still enjoyable.

The greatest delivered lyric of all time. "The kids out in the street Take their toys and break them And look at them, then walk away"

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

Kind of an Americana type album in some ways, I don't know how to describe that but it felt that way, especially with the album cover. I wasn't a huge fan, but there were some moments I enjoyed.

Never heard of this and didn't expect much, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Some really solid and fun melodies, plus the singer had this weird falsetto shift thing going on that I kinda liked, it's imperfect but leaning into that imperfection feels good and genuine. Nothing too crazy to note here, but it was really good. Favorite tracks: You Masculine You, Nashville Parent, What Else Could It Be, The Distance from Her to There. Album art: This one's interesting, it's an inset painting of two kids playing by a lake, containing the giant word NIXON. Below the painting is a pretty unusual band logo thing, almost looks like a fishing depth finder diagram? Not entirely sure. But enough here to be interesting, the painting is really cool honestly. 3.5/5

Nice and chill and some bops but also every time he did the falsetto voice in ‘The Distance From Her to There’ I finally related to and understood that tweet “me and my friends would have killed ET with hammers”. It set off my fight or flight adrenaline rush

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from Nixon, as the only Lambchop album I’d previously heard was the more abstract and electronic This from nearly two decades later (which I had quite enjoyed, but not revisited since that first listen in 2019). Nixon on the other hand was more conventional - I guess. It’s a country/art-pop album that somehow also dabbles in Philly soul; its influences are all over the place and its songs regularly exceed five minutes but fill the time really nicely so they don’t seem gratuitous. Some grating falsetto aside, it’s a really nice listen and I’ll definitely be listening to what else Lambchop has to offer

Pretty average music, don't like her voice

some good songs but generally uninteresting or just plain strange

A relaxing listen

This was a bit of a strange/interesting album. I either loved it or hated it, but can't decide. Definitely needs another listen. The musicianship, arrangements, etc. all sounded... pretty good? Easy, interesting listening. But the singing, I'm not so sure. Could be one of those things that grows on you after repeated listens. Or not! 2.5 / 5.

Good album. I don't recall having heard of this band before and I doubt I've heard their music before. Nice addition of horns and other instruments on most tracks, and quite a few layers going on but not in a messy or cacophonous way. Interesting stuff here. I like it.

Not something I enjoyed in any real way, although the last song wasn’t bad. It really just isn’t my style of music ultimately but I wouldn’t say it was a BAD album really. Very neutral 3 stars

meh

Pleasant, easy listening, but essentially background noise. I'm surprised to see this considered as one of the top 1001 albums, it doesn't seem to be outstanding in any particular way. I enjoyed this, don't get me wrong, but don't think my life has been enriched by listening to it, and don't think I'll be saving this one for later.

Lugnt och gött, tarvar rätt sinnesstämning

Chill falsetto. 3/5

Much more easy listening than I expected. Not enjoying the vocals for the most part. Otherwise, fairly dreamy stuff but nothing much is making me pay close attention. The Petrified Florist has a bit of a darker edge, but it's too little too late.

Ganz ok, aber bisschen langweilig. 3-4

The year 2000 has yet another surprising gem with this album, showcasing a charming blend of country and soul.

Yesterday we bought a lamb chops from Tesco for the first time in, literally, years. Today this Lambchop album is generated. Just, wow. Mind blown. What is happening in the universe?! There really must be powers we don't understand. (Or it could just be a coincidence). Regarding the music, this is quaint, gentle orchestral chamber pop. It feels very similar in style to Richard Hawley's Coles Corner album and is stylistically right up my street. I love arrangements, but I'm not sure the song writing is all that, and it does get dangerously close to easy listening at times. The falsetto and neo soul are also very ill advised. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Up with People Date listened: 16/03/24

2.5

Not a top 1,001. Not a top 10,001.

This is an album that I have had for a long time, I listen to it somewhat rarely but do remember enjoying it. So far, it's not as good as I remember but still enjoyable nonetheless, definitely one that I will be returning to at some point. 3/5

🥱

Obsolutely adore the Giggle Stick on track 2, but kinda boring otherwise. I think they could have used a bit more production on a couple songs.

Nice instrumentals and some good easy listening. Favorites were You Masculine You, Up With People, and The Butcher Boy.

Another surprise

I liked this a lot - grew on me with every listen. Definitely one to spend more time with in the future. Simple, great songs, although I prefer when he's not singing in falsetto.

Reminded me a bit of Radiohead.

Fine country pop album.

Merge is really reliable for creative gems. Love that this gets lumped in as alt country, though the album is more 70s AM with R&B on it, but there is slide guitar a couple times. I'd describe this album more like Beck's Deborah played straight, but it's pretty unclassifiable and I can see how Lambchop rewards repeat listening. Up with the People and Grumpus are bigger hits if you can say that on the album and deservedly so. Maybe me sample more of his discography based on the interest this perked and he's definitely a creative savant. Works well that he shares the label with Torres whom I prefer to about anything else lately.

Bit weird but ok

A little groovy. Had some moments that reminded me of an Elvis Costello type voice? Nice little listen.

keichter dünner nuller pop

I liked Up With People well enough. The rest I could leave honestly.

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.

I was not sure what to expect going into this, but I was pleasantly surprised! It had a gentle sound but the titles and lyrics seemed just a tad unhinged, which was a fascinating combo. Not sure if I will return to this artist on my own, but it was an interesting and pleasant listen.

It was alright.

Every time I wanted to like it, it just got real weird. I just assumed it was an older album…the voice and the songs reminded me a little of mark knopfler. In the end, the album was only okay. .

really nice RECORD!!!!!!!!!!

Saved the entire album to my library after only hearing to the halfway mark of the first song. I usually need to listen through multiple times. I’m highly selective of what makes it in there. If asking why..I have no answer for that. The feeling induced by Nixon by Lambchop is ineffable. Which is how art should be I guess. One of my faults is the need to explain everything too much. For a person with many words this album left me speechless.

Not my kind of weird.

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 sure what I listened to, but glad I did. Kind of a mix of a floydian Kenny G avante guard kind of thing.

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

2.5 - It was fine? Admittedly, I'm writing this days after actually listening to the album, and I remember almost nothing. I think I kind of liked the first songs and the vibe it set up, but everything else was whatever. Another forgettable album.

new to me. I like it!

I've never heard of this band before, or this album. I read a review from a guy that attended one of their live shows. "14 outcasts in denim and pearl buttons, standing onstage and staring at their shoes, playing the pro-social sounds of country and soul with the graceful reluctance of indie rockers too polite to beg for attention but too obstinate to shut up and go home. " The wife liked it. I didn't hate it. 3 stars.

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

Pretty odd, I did like a couple of the tracks but didn't love the album overall.

Klinkt prima

Name sounds like Lamb of God, was expecting Lamb of God, was not Lamb of God, 2/5

very soothing and relaxing. Voice is great, instruments blends really well together

Pretty relaxing

Group I never heard of, even under the old name Posterchild.

Honestly have never understood the lamb chop appeal. It’s good enough to put on in the background but doesn’t hold my attention.

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

Could have cut out about half these songs and been a much better album for sure.

Favourite songs: The Distance From Her to There, Up With People, The Old Gold Shoe Least favourite songs: Petrified Florist 3/5

Not my thing. Sleepy and folky

Yawn.

***2.5 stars. Uhhhh this was pretty mid! I'm not a huge fan of his voice, and while the lyrics and production aren't laguhably bad or anything, there's no one track that managed to stick out to me; everything just kinda blended together. Overall a pretty forgettable album, and I can't see myself returning to this in the future.

I've tried so many times to get into Lambchop. It's not bad, I actually like the music here a lot, but his voice takes me out of it. Not for me.

3 1/2

5/10 - 2/5 This was a skim for me. Not a fan of the not-really-singing, not a fan of the generally mellow sound. Just wasn't it.

I'll for sure consider playing this anytime I end up in a field of daffodils, with ample puppies, and a picnic blanket, and beautiful families in the distance smiling and frolicking in slow motion, while I have a head 1/2 full of mellow mushrooms.

I've never heard this album before. I don't know that I will rush out to listen to it again, but I would describe it as decent background music whilst accomplishing household chores.

That's nice. Its like the Silver Jews with a strings section.

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.

claim to fame "peaked at 27 on the Norwegian Albums chart in 2000", but it's a UK group so better throw it on the list I guess??

Could make more enjoyable music with a bucket and 2 sticks

Not sure how to clasify this one but did not like it at all.

Strange album. It's like very cool elevator muzak. I'm curious what their other albums sound like.

3/5. A pretty chill and relaxing album, except when he tries for the prince-tier high pitched singing, takes me completely out, and that's like half of the songs. The instrumentation is so good but his vocals are kind of a negative for me. I enjoyed it but hard to find myself relistening.

2/5 naaaah

Fairly forgettable, but pleasant enough as it goes. Perhaps an early (and American) forerunner of the British landfill indie movement of a few years later, with much more country influence. Only giving three feels too harsh, but it wasn't good enough for four stars - so 3 is what it has to get!

Une ou deux qui faisaient un peu balade dans la prairie ahah mais je n'ai pas trop aimé :/

meh

The falsetto makes me think of the muppets.

2.8

A bit boring I thought. Some nice ideas but dragged its feet

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

Nope. Didn’t enjoy. But didn’t hate it so much I had to turn it off, so 2 stars.

Hated this. This sounds like someone purposefully trying to make music for the backing track to a Frasier episode. Every song was to long for my taste, especially since they don't really go anywhere. The only song I would choose to listen to again is The Butcher Boy

Zzzzzzz...

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

Enjoyable, pleasant and interesting.

There are probably better Lambchop albums, and better respresentations of this genre. It's fine. Didn't really grab me.

I can't really put my finger on what exactly it is I don't like about this album, but I don't. It started off OK, but then gradually got worse. It felt very forgettable if nothing else, nothing that really stuck to me.

Nice easy listening with sometimes being a bit too smooth so that you forget about it and it becomes a bit bland. A mix of some soul, some motown, some country and some indie. During the first listen "Up With People" stood out as being more catchy than the rest. Can see myself putting this on in the background and it could grow with some more listens.

interesting, chill

Falsetto in ‘you masculine you’ was a bit much Fun mellow rocky vibes coffee shop for first few until you masculine you

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.

Halfway through the first song I had convinced myself that the vocalist was Gibby Haynes and that Lambchop was a side project he had started. It made me excited because I assumed the album would start getting REAL WEIRD soon. After the fourth track no weirdness had revealed itself. At this point I started to settle in and my mind wandered into the territory of those Scott Walker records. The music on them was OK but they also got weird. Now we come to Nixon. It's not a Butthole Surfers off-shoot. The songs are not meant to shock uptight 60s music consumers. Instead this was probably a hallmark of the alternative country or New Weird America or whatever scene was popping at the time. It's OK. Not really my thing, honestly. I wasn't into Wilco 20 years ago. Maybe if I was then Nixon would be a revelation.

This has that early 2000s slightly breathless, retro, twee feel - it kept reminding me of The Magic Numbers , or Corinne Bailey Rae. It does have some pretty dark lyrical imagery, but that is offset by the melodies and (over) production. It's perfectly nice, but I'm not sure it deserves a place on the list. Having said that, the falsetto on 'The Distance From Her To There' is really shit.

Not offensive, but not really engaging, either.

The cover intrigued me in a ‘this could be anything’ kind of way but I did not care for the contents. It feels like a ‘lyrics first’ type of album, because behind the lush orchestration the actual tunes are pretty thin, but ultimately neither the words nor the music grabbed me (or, when they did, they let me go again pretty sharpish).

It's very ambient and pleasing to the ear for alt-country-rock music but i can't recall a song. Didn't hate it. Don't ever want to hear it again.

This album started out promising, with cosy, moody lounge music. But then the singer just had to sing very high, even though it sounded shit. So 3 stars it gets. Stand-out: Grumpus

So lala

Enjoyable although I didn't finish it by two tracks. 3*

It was OK. Bit like a more boring Pavement album.

Interesting - very mellow. Liked it...

Nett

In glad that this only went on for 10 songs. I disliked this album from the start. There was such a whiny voice the entire time that was so displeasing to listen to. His voice sounded like he was on the verge of sneezing the entire time and then the music was the snotty gross aftermath nobody wants to clean up.

Self-prejudice alert: I see "alt-country" and I'm immediately at the ready to peak at a 2/5 stars. Maybe. I don't hear this as alt-country. Or - perhaps in a moment of self-improvement - maybe I just don't know what alt-country can really mean. This is (or was for me) for the most part unexpectedly melodic, joyous, adventurous music. The negatives though....sigh: the lyrics are sometimes noticeable in an odd way ("Nashville Parent"). And the worst is that the vocals - again with vocals - start to become comically bad (holy hell the falsetto delivery on "What Else Could It Be?" has to be a joke? Whywhywhy and then continued here and there later on) ... The vocals are by far the biggest distraction which is a disappointment as they'd started out ... normal-ish? not-noticeable? When he sings in a plain matter-of-fact Bill Callahan style it works. This falsetto distracts from the entire project which is frustrating and as the album progressed the bizarre vocals became more noticeable to me. TL;DR: very very creative and skilled in composition, vocals (as always...) bring it down. Could listen to *some* of this again and happily. Sounds like a 3. 5/10 3 stars.

Genuinely bad. Couldn't even make it through three songs.

What a bore

Lampchop lean heavily into the chamber pop style. A bit too much for my taste. There are a few great tracks but others really lose me. Aside from some brief praise from the music press, I don't know see much significance to this one either unfortunately.

Pretty groovy, 4 stars

I can't listen to this. The production is beautiful. OK I've said something nice. There is this trend - across genres - that started in the late 90s - wherein certain artists sound like Music By Potheads on Anti-Depressants for Potheads on Anti-Depressants. It creates recordings that are SO boring. This recording is an archetype. And this guy's voice. His cutesy-bear sounds to me like someone too lazy or cowardly to try to learn to sing. It stimulates the same rage I used to get listening to Barney sing I Love You, You Love Me on his insufferable cartoon.

Kinda lost some steam at the end, which was interesting because it was musically more exciting. I liked the soothing feel of the record in general and found it to be a good combination of genres that I may not necessarily enjoy all the time.

Have no idea why this is on this list. So boring, nothing stands out. [0100/1001]

A lot of this album is just incredibly beautiful, both in terms of the music, and the lyrics. Up The People and The Book I Haven’t Read are particular highlights, exhibiting a gorgeous affinity for lush, sweet arrangement and orchestration. It’s the sort of album I’d feel happy putting on in the background while I just vibed. I can’t stand the sound of the guy’s falsetto though, fuck that

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 publications, 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.

It wasn't as bad as the reviews suggested, or as good as the critics would have you believe

Este fue una grata sorpresa

171223 13:04 4

An example of why this exercise is so valuable. A release of my era but I’d never heard. Part Ween, part symphony, part alt and prog. It’s impossible to define and across the sound spectrum. What a gift.

Great listen!

The easy grooves, luscious and accentuating strings, the faux falsetto, beds of baritone sax, punctuating brass, the wandering and evocative guitars – many factors conspire to make this a retrogressive delight. Not sure any band ever did "quiet is the new loud" more efficaciously. And man were they strong live, especially in their large format; a 2002 or '03 show at the Prospect Park Bandshell is one of the best shows one ever saw. There's a rich and lovely archness here, the tension between the quotidian lyrics (e.g., drinking neighbors, drinking and salad dressing) and oft dramatic and seeming seriousness of style and tone. It's an approachable sort of irony. Only last few cuts leave one a bit cold. Kudos to editors for including this totally underrated classic. This isn't their best – Ohio would be one's choice – though it's excelelnt overall and adding another Lambchop record (much less the two or three other worthy choices) would've been too much to ask, clearly.

It was fine

Tooodella pehmeä levy ja sopi päivän tunnelmaan. Ei todella mitään hittikamaa, mutta kevyttä ja helppoa taustamusaa.

Tällä muniinpuhaltelulla ei menty jatkoon

Nixon starts as dreamy chamber pop, switches to soul and then switches back. Who is this for? Who listens to this on the regular? There are so nice sounds, I felt like I was listening to the soundtrack of a very boring movie at times. Overall, what are we doing guys? 4.2/10

“Hey you guys want to make a pretty cool alternative country/R&B album? Ok cool, only catch is that the singer has to be quiet so he doesn’t wake up my mom.” That how I imagine it went down

1st listen

trite boring nothing even slightly interesting. I don't remember if I finished it. 1.5 stars

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

M'eh. Not sure why this is on the list.

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.

Album 246 of 1001 Lambchop - Nixon Serene. Peaceful. Chill. This album could be defined with any of those. I tire of the term "I really wanted to like this more than I do", but that is the case here. Seems so perfectly put together but the output is just "meh'. Vocals are on point, musicians are on point, production, as well. Not sure where it is going wrong. Another reviewer said "The emotional register of each song is perfectly uniform, bordering on monotone." That is an apt summation. Put them in there with Elliot Smith, Leonard Cohen, etc. I did like it.

What a strange album. The singing change in The Distance from Her to There and You Masculine You caused me to stop what I was doing. I listened to this twice and still don't know what to make of it. This almost has a bit of the vibe of Roger Waters solo work in some ways. I do like the range of instruments they used and how it all blends. I think a lot of this goes in a direction I really like but the sum of the parts isn't quite what I wanted. Strong 3+ for me.

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.

Pretty creative and alri

Not what I was expecting but actually enjoyed it.

Vibey

This one’s not too bad. While it feels a bit repetitive and samey throughout, it brings nice vibes, vocals, instruments, and lyricism to the table. The higher pitched vocals may be a bit much, but this one’s chill. A good album for the morning. :)

Unremarkable. It was way too long for what it is. Never heard of the band or any of the songs. They are trying to hard to be clever with their lyrics and the sound. It was boring. The style of songs are all over the place. Better than a one, but not really a two. I will round down.

Weird and wonderful!

A bit like an American Divine Comedy

Like pleasant hotel lobby music, or a Subaru commercial. Unoffensive and very not groundbreaking. I will immediately forget this. 2.5 but rounding up cause I didn't hate it.

Unusual, varied, folksy/talky, a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.

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.

I wasn't expecting a laid back disco vibe. Add in elements of gospel, plus the strings and horns, and you have a rather confused record. It sounds too polished. The songs suit a more stripped down approach.

A great voice and nice relaxing music. Perfect for background.

Ok i'm tapping out of this one too. I have the same issue with some baroque pop as i do with psychedelic pop, where it feels like they're using an aesthetic to mask over the flaws. As though just throwing some strings and piano over the top will make me forget about the bland songwriting and the horrific vocals when he gets into his higher register. Couldn't remember a single song or a single interesting moment after three quarters through. Make it stop.

Really enjoyed this one! Don't have any specific comments, but it was a great album and I'd never heard it.

I really was impressed by how non conformist this album was. Each track had it's own lane but remained a realm of thoughtful and subtly inspiring music. Tho I'm not super in love with the dude's voice, I enjoyed the multitude of instrumentation and seemingly unlimited number of artists that performed on this. Very happy to have been introduced to Lambchop.

Lamb Chop was an iconic if annoying children’s entertainment sock puppet. Lambchop was a forgettable and annoying rock band. According to Wikipedia, Lambchop’s fifth album “Nixon” was a breakout for the band… in the UK. And now we see why it’s on the 1001. The title “Nixon” is a reference to Richard Nixon, but is the album about Nixon?? These guys are not so good with naming things. “Nixon” came out at the turn of the century, perhaps helping out its standing on the list, as 2000 placed 18 albums on the list but no year after hit more than 11. As for the music itself? I was bored. I’ve already forgotten what they sound like. But I’ll never forget what Lamp Chop sounded like. Cute puppet. But that voice? Um…

Dude’s voice sounds too much like Leonard Cohen at times. Big turn off, which is too bad because the music is decent.

Not really my thing

Huh, had never heard of them. Didn’t add anything to my library, but didn’t hate it.

I was really enjoying this, and then the singer went into his falsetto range, and now all I hear is Tiny Tim. The instrumentation is really good and interesting, but I can't get past how not great the falsetto singing is.

2.5 - 3.0

nah 2*

I appreciate the unique style, but I'm not sure I'd come back to this.

unexpected

So so bad

I’d remembered this album as a warmly gorgeous 5⭐️ album And whilst it was very good - great in a few places - it seemed somehow less than I’d remembered. A solid 4 rather than the slam dunk 5 I’d hoped for

Interesting mix of sounds Wikipedia potentially lists as ‘alternative country’ but largely sits in the broad label that is ‘indie’. Also great that it was a nothing burger in the US but found popularity in the UK and now is on this list from our UK writer

Didn't know what sound to expect when I hit play, but I was overall surprised by this. Lambchop has a knack for beautiful, yet haunting, simple, yet catchy melodies. Love the Neil Young-esque vocals. Definitely going to check out more of their catalogue.

Really interesting listen. I wasn't familiar with it. and will likely add to my collection

ok

Boring

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.

Idk how they picked all these albums, feels like a lot of shit

Meh

Not sure this should have been on a 1001 albums to listen to before you die list. Competent enough but nothing really stood out about it so I’d have happily passed without ever hearing it

i think i didn’t get it. limp wilco. weird faux-weak vocals. i bet it would be better on a 2nd listen tho

4.0

Mezcla de canciones con pop elegante. Señorial. No me ha aportado nada en especial. Totalmente desconocido. No veo por qué tiene que destacar de una manera única.

Pretty!

Pretty chill, 5/10

Easy to listen to, but hard to concentrate on... didn't really leave an impression

Cool tones, had trouble making out the lyrics but I think that they would be profound.

Hmmm, there is a lot to appreciate here. Floating between a 2 and 3 my appreciation of the musicianship and my lack of enjoyment. The layers are dense and nicely orchestrated. I would need to sit with the words longer to work out clearly the primary themes. I won't do this, because Im not actually enjoy listening to it for the length of the record. It plods along like a slushy trudge through someone else's neighborhood. What are you hinting at, my dudes? Why are we stuck at 110 bpm? Why does this music feel so impotent? They're so restrained I feel like I'm handcuffed.

I love the idea of Lambchop a lot and when they come on in shuffle or something similar, they always strike a chord with me, but I am often left wanting when I listen to a whole album. I know this is their most praised but I actually think it stays a bit too one note until the end. Luckily that note is very cool and strikes a good vibe, but this will never be my fave band or probably even my fave in the more experimental side of the genre, but they’re cool overall.

not bad but more of background noise for me. nothing stood out. listened on ride from Columbia to ATL and at night in Cumming. 2.2/5

Plodded away nicely but generally didn't move me. Like a less interesting Giant Sand.

American rock band. Des petites balades bin soffft. 2-3 tounes crrectes, mais ça vole pas haut dans mon estime.

I would've found this really pleasant were it not for the vocals. On most tracks, it's like Glen Hansard but instead of charming, awful. 3 stars for everything but the vocals.

The first time I heard the album I was like, "shoot me now" I don't want to listen to this again...2nd time, I thought, "it's not too bad, but nothing special". Now, third time...I'm really getting into it. I think it's really great now. I still need to hear it a few more times to call it amazing....but, I'm getting there. One track, The Distance from Her to There I think is amazing. Standouts: The Distance from Her to There. Others: The Old Gold Shoe, Up With People, The Book I Haven't Read 3.5/5

Makes dishwater feel exciting

I've never heard of this band before, or any of the songs on this album. After listening to it, I understand why. It was not good. I don't know what this music is trying to be, it's like slow orchestral music, or jazz, with singing that is at times low and gravely or falsetto. Sometimes it's similar to spoken word. I don't get it, I didn't like it

Boring. Every song sounded the same, nothing memorable

2 forgettable

Não é um som de baixa qualidade, mas bem xaropinho de uma forma geral, raros lampejos

Not great. 2/5

Enjoyable style wasn't sure how to place this