It's A Shame About Ray

Day 82 This is fine but one I’m unlikely to ever return to bar a couple of songs. 5/10 Highlights My Drug Buddy Bit Part

Albummet falder ikke indenfor min musiksmag. Jeg kunne forestille mig at nostalgi kunne have en større indvirkning og der er nogle sange der er gode.

3 is nice enough 4 nice. 5 aswell but a bit repetitive 9 my favorite so far 10 my least favorite so far Unfortunately It's not great Not at all Not so nice to say, but I completely forgot about it once it was over. But it's not offensive in any way... It's a flat

An album of catchy jangle rocky pop music a little punkish at times & a little countryish at other times or however you word it. Every song is the absolute perfect length & never goes even a few seconds over what it needs to be. The whole album is under 30 minutes long which of course means you can hear twice in one hour which is what I did. It's a Shame About Ray has a sunny sadness about it in just about every track it reminds me of the feeling I got when I first heard Pet Sounds which is not to say it's even half as good as Pet Sounds even if it's a 5/5 album which is probably a pretty unfair to even bring up Pet Sounds as let's face it most albums in sound second rate compared to Pet Sounds even great ones & make no mistake It's a Shame about Ray is a great album in all ways. So, yeah, even when the music is all happy and pretty there is always a sense that it's a fragile kind of happiness and that things might not be this good for all that long in that sense it reminds me of Neutral Milk Hotel's Aeroplane Over the Sea & Lou Reed's Berlin. I have listened to this album probably 100 times in the decade since I first discovered it and I still find myself thinking out loud, "this is really great stuff." it perfectly captures that magic time in your life that will make you smile on your death bed and maybe softly mumble "rosebud" as the lights go out.

Not great. Mediocre songs, Mediocre playing. Absolutely nothing interesting. Nothing exciting. Nothing memorable. For me I can't offer anything better than a 2

Meh rock

This album is a personal favorite. From what I can tell, it's a bit divisive; people either love it as a '90s dark-pop masterpiece from a tortured personality or see it as corny fluff from an annoying drug addict. I tend to lean toward the former, but I'm prejudiced here. My friends and I listened to this album constantly when I was in high school. We even called each other "Drug Buddy," even though we were just quirky theater kids who never did any drugs and didn't realize that the song was about heroin. And our misunderstanding is indicative of how this album gets overlooked for the brilliant work it is. The songs have clear pop sensibilities that could easily appeal to high schoolers, but closer listens reveal a depth that isn't immediately obvious. The songs on this record express a deep sadness in the most mundane way, the way many of us experience it in daily life. Take the lyric "Guess I don't wanna die" from "Rudderless"; the whole of a man's will to continue to live, the sum of his entire existence, is reduced to a shrug. Life moves on. It can be a meaningless slog, but we don't want it to end. I like this juxtaposition between simple, happy-sounding songs that reveal a darkness beneath. I also like Juliana Hatfield's contributions on this album, too, especially her backing vocals, which lend a further innocence and sweetness to Dando's voice. She is by turns a companion, a literary foil, and a conscience. One more point. I don't like the latter addition of the cover of "Mrs. Robinson." I know it ended up being the biggest single from the record and probably helped sell more copies than any other song, but it was never meant to be part of the album, and it sounds tacked on, which, of course, it was. This album is not a masterpiece, but it holds a unique place in my heart and has stuck with me for decades. Four stars.

Haven't heard of them before. Literally the most pointless lacklustre nothingburger 90s alternative music. What is this doing on the list 1/5

Seriously? No one NEEDED to hear this in 1992 when it came out let alone pretend like its got something that makes it a legacy album that should be passed over as a must listen. 1 star is being generous, lets go with 0.38.

Decent old school rock. Suprising good

Honestly this is bland as milk toast why is this in the list?

It never was a great album. It was just music for 90's powerpop college radio.

Just okay

Their fifth album. Indie Rock. Every song is the same middle of the road blandness. The vocals aren't great either. The album is...just...boring.

Not interesting

++: Mrs. Robinson +-: Rockin Stroll, Confetti, It's a Shame About Ray, My Drug Buddy, The Turnpike Down, Bit Part, Hannah & Gabi, Kitchen, Ceiling Fan in My Spoon -: Rudderless, Alison's Starting to Happen --: Frank Mills 2,8/10

its okay a bit repetitive but wouldnt mind if it came on the radio

I enjoyed the second half of the album more than the first half. "Ceiling Fan in My Spoon", "Kitchen", "Alison's Starting to Happen" are good tracks. I like the fact that the songs are short -- the only one over three minutes is the cover of "Mrs. Robinson". I've not consulted the 1001 book, but I suspect that "It's A Shame About Ray" is The Lemonheads sole entry in this list.

Endemic of the 90's Alt-rock explosion, The Lemonheads were a softer, poppier offering. It wasn't particularly inspired or original when it came out, but the very 90's sounds are very comforting to me. I love the attitude, I love the conventions that were new here, that just aren't done anymore ("I WANT A BIT PART IN YOUUR LIFE"). It's a Shame About Ray is middling in many ways, but great in enough ways for me to enjoy it.

Enjoyed this, but nothing stuck with me. I feel like there may be other things in this band's discography I'd like more. Oh also, fucking hate their Mrs. Robinson cover. It's on the same level as that Alien Ant Farm Smooth Criminal cover. Not even kidding.

I feel like I'm listening to a bunch of stoners (who used to perform as a youth group band 4-5 years ago) try to write music that sounds punk, but not quite nailing it. Can't say I hated listening to It's a Shame About Ray, but I didn't really enjoy it either. It's certainly not essential listening material in my book. Separately, I noticed that the Lemonheads' top song on Spotify was their cover of "Mrs. Robinson" and that it was on this album – I didn't want my first impression of the iconic song to be a cover, so I decided to listen to the original and mildly spoil Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends album (which is on this list) in the process. I later realized that the cover isn't actually a part of the original album and that I could have just not listened to the bonus tracks. My bad on that one. Highlights: Confetti, It’s a Shame About Ray

What is the point of this. Music this absolutely bland and should should at least have a good vocalist.

It has that '80s rock feel, yet it's not hard to listen to and sounds familiar to the ear. Even within the same album, it features tracks with distinct atmospheres.

Not really

Scrubs ass music

Good album, never listened to The Lemonheads before but I'm a fan. Rudderless is a banger

I feel conflicted about rating this album, simply because I already love it and have nostalgic feelings about it and love the genre as a whole. At the same time, it feels sort of weightless - like it's wonderful but not essential. But the rapid-fire songwriting feels equal parts tossed-off and crafted (probably the exact effect Dando et al. are going for), and there are constant sugary pleasures here - most of these songs could be singles, or at the very least in the background of a Friends episode. And as far as Steinian statements about the slacker zeitgeist go, "ship without a rudder's like a ship without a rudder's like a ship without a rudder" is pretty damn good. I don't know if it's a great album but I like it better than a lot of great albums.

For some reason, I never got around to listening to this one, despite my borderline obsession with 90s alt rock and grunge. I only knew the Mrs. Robinson cover. The whole album is great though - short and snappy, and very catchybin places. Especially liked the title track, Confetti, My Drugs Friend and Alison's Starting to Happen.

Good album with nostalgic feel

90s pop punk is FINE

The Lemonheads were swimming against the tide of grunge in 1992 with this album. It lacks the emotional weight, fury and aggression of grunge and that's a welcome deviation. However, save for the title track and an absolutely cover of Simon & Garfunkels 'Mrs Robinson' there is little worth remembering about this album. It's all decent but nothing special. Top Track = Mrs Robinson

Tiesin bändin ja keulahahmon nimeltä. En oo ikinä kuunnellut heitä. Enkä kuuntele jatkossakaan. Tää levy oli mun korviin tasapaksua poppia, mitään ei jäänyt mieleen, eikä oo mun kuppi teetä. Ainoa menevä biisi oli ”Mrs. Robinson”-coveri.

זה אלבום מאוד נחמד שמייצג את רוח התקופה וברוח הרוק האלטרנטיבי שהגיע לשיאו בשנות ה90 מאוד נהנתי להקשיב לאלבום ואני שמח שהתחלתי את המסע שלי ב1001 אלבומים האלו עם האלבום הזה שירים בולטים: Confetti, It’s a Shame About Ray, Mrs. Robinson

3.5

Enjoyed, short on listening time, but tidy.

Mostly a solid, fun album. “My Drug Buddy” is a total vibe killer and doesn’t fit at all. IMO, it’s the only thing keeping this from being a 5/5. Why artists always have slow, boring songs in the middle of otherwise upbeat albums is beyond me. Everything else is very good, this album is otherwise a great time.

Really fun album! Just one note: add the “The”

wait this was actually flames

It’s A Shame About Ray is one of those albums that sneaks up on you with how effortlessly good it is. It’s short, breezy, and packed with catchy melodies, but there’s a bittersweet edge running through it that gives it real staying power. The title track is the emotional centerpiece, a perfect mix of jangly guitars and quiet melancholy, while “Confetti” and “Rudderless” show off the band’s knack for writing sharp, memorable hooks without overcomplicating things. What makes the album work so well is its balance. It feels loose and casual, like the songs were tossed off without too much fuss, but underneath that is a real sense of craft. Evan Dando’s vocals walk that line between laid-back and vulnerable, giving the songs a lived-in charm. The production is clean but never glossy, letting the guitars and melodies breathe. Even the cover of “Mrs. Robinson,” added later for the reissue, fits surprisingly well with the mood. It’s A Shame About Ray is over before you know it, but that’s part of its magic. It doesn’t try to be grand or profound, it just delivers a string of perfectly formed songs that stick with you. It’s warm, sad, and easy to fall into, the kind of record that feels like a familiar friend after only a couple of listens.

This is a fun pop rock record.

Decent

was really impressed by this one. i have been on a 90s alt kick lately and this one really hit for me in that regard. it's a fun album to listen to and i especially liked the title track and 'confetti' which are certified bangers, in my opinion. it's fun, hooky, catchy, and an underrated entry into 90s alternative.

It’s ok

Really not for me. Lifeless in my ears.

Damn they felt rebellious, they even said "tit" once Soft punk for Christians

Meh

Not my thing

Super generic. Not that great

like the vibe, didn’t really blow me away but Mrs Robinson is a classic. Doubt I’ll return to it; but didn’t hate it.

Much ‘90s. Much acoustic guitar. Fun adjacent.

I love me some good old indie rock. Lemonheads for some reason skirted around me. This is good stuff, though I might have liked it better if I knew it more.

I never really got into The Lemonheads. This was OK, but I’m not going to revisit. It’s in here, but PUSA isn’t?!

I don’t know. Must listen? Their version of Mrs Robinson took all the menace out of it. The rest of it is fine. Quite ok even. But hardly essential…

I have a real nostalgic fondness for this record. In 1991, I moved out of home in the suburbs and into share houses in the inner city of Sydney, hanging around Glebe and Newtown and seeing gigs at the Annandale Hotel, working in a grungy record store. As it so happens, Evan Dando was also hanging around Glebe and Newtown and the Annandale Hotel (I would see him there pretty regularly around that time) and hanging out with local musos and people who worked in record stores. and he wrote this album about that. The sound, the songs, the people in it, the videos, all reflect that time and place. The video for 'Rocking stroll' was filmed on Glebe Point Rd, and is a wonderful time capsule of the look and feel of that moment. Evan Dando certainly parlayed his (at the time) minor celebrity to cadge drinks and mooch his way into afterparties. The joke at the time was to sing "Evan's in the back seat of my Cadillac", based on the frequency of discovering a drunk Evan Dando in the back of someone's car on the way some post-gig party. Subsequent success seemed to introduce him to a different class of inebriants, which made things worse. Celebrity never did Evan any favours, and he never hit this peak again. I love this record, because it is a cracking listen and because it reminds me of a special time in my youth. The tunes are catchy, all the songs are really short and leave you wanting more. I also had a crush on the real Alison, immortalized in the song 'Alison's starting to happen'. She worked at another hip record store in Sydney and played drums in a band. She was really cool.

Very generic 90s alt rock

4.5 Man I really love this album and it's hard for me not to give it a 5 as I could listen to this album any week of the year and enjoy it. It's so smooth it seems like it's a 15-minute album (it's 33:28 to include the cover of Ms. Robinson but exclude bonus materials.) Have to say two songs (eponymous and the cover) almost warrants a 5 but I was also somewhat surprised to see this album (one of my personal favorites) on a list of the most influential considering some they skipped. Don't be too upset Lemonheads - I love you just trying to be fair to 'others' :-P

Very boring run-of-the-mill indie rock. Very hard to justify this being on the list but something like The Beatles' Let It Be not being on the list. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

this is fine. it sounds like 80% of rock from this time period. nothing special but an easy listen

It's the '90s. nothing at all bad but nothing too stand out either. They are a great feeling

Classic rock n roll Not as in classic rock As in it’s like classic And it’s rock music Sounds like it should be in a horrid Henry movie tbh Kind of teenage dirtbag style but not really Gets a bit more mopey at Rudderless Nice shouty bit at the start of bit part Frank mills feels like it has lore Mrs Robinson is soooo nostalgic even though I’ve never heard it before Shakey ground is very chill and a lot more indie than the rest thus far Title track starts like a Beatles song The my drug buddy demo version sounds a little more depressing than the actual version ngl A fan of kitchen demo it’s very basic I love it

Starts off quite high energy and interesting and sort of just fades into boringness. Forgot I was listening to it multiple times and really wanted to like this one. Rudderless stood out to me. Won’t listen much again and certainly wouldn’t recommend.

I'm new to The Lemonheads (outside of Big Gay Heart). Pretty good - would probably spin again.

All time fave

Snarky

I saw this described as grunge on Wikipedia, which is confusing since this is very jangly and melodic, more like a heavier take on REM. I was into it. Best song: Hannah & Gabi

typical 90s indie gets typical score

2.1 - Mal wieder ein Album, bei dem ich nicht verstehe, wie es auf die Liste gekommen ist. Kein Hit, nur Einheitsbrei, gerade gut genug, um nicht geskippt zu werden. Highlights: It's a Shame About Ray

A lot of 1990s alt rock radio is contained in this album’s sound: a little melancholy (or a lot), acoustic guitar as rhythm guitar, jangly electric lead that sometimes rocked out a bit (but not too much), straightforward rhythm section with some occasional tunefulness in the bass guitar lines, and a singer who can carry a tune, but isn’t some vocal marvel. Plus an ease with novelty songs. I should bracket most popular alt music released between 1992 and 1999 as a lot of that time I did not have access to American media, due to being in Germany off and on, alongside the usual poor college semesters without cable. MTV was such a big deal for US music fans, especially during the Alternative Nation “let’s turn band members into tv hosts” moment, which I largely missed. I didn’t know much about Evan and co. before the Mrs. Robinson cover (vaguely recall Blake Babies being something I should track down if I was ever back stateside) and honestly didn’t care too much aside from the novelty of an uptempo “punk” cover of a Boomer staple. Over time the title track and My Drug Buddy became favs, but the arrival of Come On Feel was met with my indifference (also some preference for Juliana Hatfield had crept in). But, for my Boston friends, the Lemonheads were as vital as the Pixies, Dinosaur, or Sebadoh. And when he’s cooking, Evan could write a wicked killer song! There’s a cinematic, moving quality to his pairing of lyrics and melody, most successful on My Drug Buddy’s first verse - you can picture them heading out in whatever car, stopping at the pay phone to call their dealer, etc. The Lemonheads sound really only takes you so far and the result is always just a bit slight, never too deep. Which is fine, more bands should have a scattering of really good singles and perfectly solid album cuts. Again though: why this list? Did they have more of an impact in the UK and commonwealth nations than stateside? What did the average Brit see when they heard this band? I have all of my New England and Boston-specific imagery to rely on but this conjures up less of that and more anonymous, suburban ennui or possibly something more Southern Californian thanks to Evan’s movie star looks and the craft that went into their videos. Couple great songs, but as a statement across an entire album I don’t get how this pairs with The Greatest Albums of All Time.

Pure 90s jangle rock. Other people did it better though. Just made me want to listen to gin blossoms.

This is the definition of an average album. Wasn’t bad to listen to, but literally nothing stood out either. Just kinda played in my ears, then it was over. “But Adam, what about the Mrs. Robinson cover!?” What about it indeed; I tend to change the station nearly every time it comes on the SXM Lithium channel. I don’t think it’s very good. Rest of the album is fine, but it is all forgettable. Not a great choice for this list. 2.5/5

This album was a very pleasant surprise to me. Lots of catchy tunes and great musicianship. There were some good riffs in here. The vocals were pretty good considering the sometimes goofy nature of the lyrics. Really good, but I would not say particularly unique in any way.

Mediocre middle of the road rock. Quite boring and featureless

This a proper retro trip and ode to Ms Greenslade. Used to love this album and not listened to it years. Still sounds great - and alot better than many other albums from this era. Banging.

Quintessential for this group! Better than I remember the album too. Fondly remember watching Evan Dando live.

The title track, It's A Shame About Ray, and Kitchen, were both nice discoveries. Mrs Robinson was of course the standout. An ok album. The Lemonheads have a couple of bangers in their repertoire but they also scraped together a lot of fillers.

na not my taste

generic 90s alt

Recognize the album art from some track on an old playlist, but first time spending time with the Lemonheads. Overall I really liked the sound but was a bit too busy to give this a deep listen. Great background music, 3/5 for today but I could see myself raising to a 4

65

An ok album, sure. Did I like it, yes. But relisten factor is a bit low for me.

C'est bon, une autre belle découverte! Je réécouterais la première partie de l'album n'importe quand. La deuxième partie, not so much. Pour ça 3/5, sinon c'était un 4.

this was actually so good i love mrs robinson and didn’t know that was by them!!! enjoyed listening to them more a lot

Eh it's ok. "Mrs. Robbinson" still slaps. The title song is catchy. I don't know the instruments nor the lyrics don't draw me in. I think if I were to enjoy the music more I'd have to listen to it multiple times maybe. But very first impression, not really grabbing or compelling me to listen more.

Top10 all time favourites

It's A Shame About This Album

Lidt poppet punk fra 90’erne, kort og ok

Decent cover of Mrs. Robinson but, otherwise, kind of an unremarkable 90s alt-rock band.

Rad album. I dug about 70% of it

Solid

The 90s didn't give us much musically - in context this is not the worst.

fine i guess

Solid 90s alt. The title track is the standout but Rudderless is also great and of course can’t forget that Robinson cover. The whole thing is cohesive.

Great early alternative/indie rock. Catchy and melodic. Ushered in a wave of bands like Soul Asylum, Gin Blossoms and others. A high 4.

A solid rock album. Only knew the "Mrs. Robinson" cover before hearing this. I honestly thought it was very funny that they felt the need to clarify that George Harrison was "of the Beatles" in "Frank Mills".

This didn’t do much for me at first, but picked up on the second half a lot. Favorites were: “Hannah & Gabi” and, of course, “Mrs. Robinson.”

10/10 super catchy, and I loved the Mrs. Robinson cover that I’m like 90% sure was in Wolf of Wallstreet

nothing special

Elvis Costello starts an indie rock band… In all fairness this is unique and foundational for what would become a massive genre. It even feels a little emo at times. Has elements of so many things I enjoy, while also being little dated in the ripped jeans and flannel 90s.

Another album I know very well. Short and excellent.

Nothing wrong with this on a sunday morning, otherwise not very moving..

Sounds like the perfect soundtrack for a coming of age movie. Sure it's not the greatest album ever made but I immediately wanted to listen again after the first time (if it wasn't 3am right now I would have)

Nice punky kinda feel. Sure, why not.

What is there to say about The Lemonheads that isn't really, really, mean? They were host to a bunch of musicians that went on to better things. I don't know. I find the music to be mostly insufferable.

Dope asf, pleasantly suprised

classic genx

Not bad but I also would say not amazing. "It's a Shame About Ray" and "Mrs. Robinson" are the only two songs I knew and while I could say each are pretty solid examples of 90s alternative - even the cover of "Mrs. Robinson" has been updated for a fresh spin- overall, many of the song sounded the same to me. It didn't knock my socks off like other 90s early alternative albums from the time may have done.

More like Evan Dumbo amirite?

Nice 90s album. Which is both a compliment and a warning.

“It’s a Shame About Ray” is an excellent single and example of middle of the road 90’s alternative pop. Sure, they tackle tough or dramatic content, but they do it in a safe way. They meandered through five albums only to have their most significant single come through covering Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson - added to the album later the same year of the release. They sound pretty good, but not good enough tor rise about the slightly better 90s bands and albums.

Nice

It's..... fine. All kinda samey. Good for it's time, doesn't hold up without nostalgia

I don't love it much but the cover of Mrs Robinson is a 10/10 71/100

I already forgot what this sounded like.. Favorite track: Mrs. Robinson

Sounded really old school. Reminded me of American Pie and a youth I didn't get to experience.

Very Good!

It's a Shame About Ray Confetti My Drug Buddy Mrs. Robinson

fun early 90's pop/rock, although Head fans may disagree. Funny how best song is a Simon and Garfunkel cover.

Actually really enjoyed this one. Listened to the 2022 remaster on Spotify, and thought the demo versions we're a little stronger, but that's more a personal taste thing than anything

4.9/10

This album is so boring. The lyrics are bad and the singing is awful. Nothing exciting going on with the instruments. What is it doing on this list?

So so...

it's giving smashmouth too much jangle

It's ok but not my bag

Really pleasantly surprised by this! Thought it was great, paced really well and a solid bunch of tracks. Has a fair bit of variety and can hear those punk rock roots. Would definitely go buy this if I heard the Mrs Robinson cover on college radio.

Kinda did nothing for me

A clear picture of what the 90s would sound like. Unfortunately it just didn't get me terribly interested to hear more.

I like ceiling fan in my spoon. fine

Good alt rock album

Not bad

This album sounds like every 90s alt-rock one hit wonder on rock radio. It isn't bad or grating, but kinda boring. The songs are very short, with only the Mrs. Robinson cover being over 3 minutes. This is good, because there's not much of note here. It's solid, but fails to stand out for anything.

Great cover of Mrs. Robinson, but overall this feels like a poor mans' early REM record.

Great

Not for me. 1/5

Very short yet catchy songs. Lyrics are a bit repetitive but has the classic song Mrs. Robinson. 3/5

Alternative rock. Pretty good. Simple but enjoyable.

Just ok

It was ok. It didn't set my world on fire.

6/10

Irgendwie sehr eintönig. Hat mich nicht gepackt.

Just a tiny tiny bit before my time so it hits that 90s nostalgia spot but not quite. It's tolerable, radio-friendly modern rock, nothing wrong with it but nothing right either. The 3'est 3 I can give.

I like it, a lot the same though, heard other stuff that sounds just like it, great songs here though

Bom

Bra, väldigt indie men fortfarande lite tråkigt

Started off this “1001 Albums Generator” with this one. I’ve never heard of The Lemonheads ‘til now, although their song Mrs. Robinson sounded familiar since I’ve read JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and one of the characters is based off this specific song, and now I know where the reference came from. Good album (didn’t liked that most of the remastered album had demo songs, those could’ve been left off)

Boring guitar, boring drums, boring vocals. Nothing memorable in the melodies and choruses.

- insgesamt ein entspanntes, kurzweiliges Album, ohne große Überraschungen - Mr. Robinson auch hier vertreten und natürlich bekannt. Ein absoluter Banger 3 – War okay / Interessant 👌 Solides Album, einige gute Momente oder Ideen. Vielleicht nichts, was ich nochmal hören würde, aber spannend zu kennen.

1 star. Just wasn't interested with the voice as soon as I heard it

This was a fun and breezy listen. Doesn’t feel super revolutionary but had nothing against it. I realised I knew the title track when listening to it and I really like it, but the rest of the album was a bit same-y and hard to tell apart. Overall still enjoyable.

Was this the same song over and over, until "Mrs. Robinson"?

Very disappointing album, felt like listening to an hour of The Brady Bunch songs

I remember Mrs Robinson but never got into this. 90’s classic. Rudderless-great. Very much a time and place for this one.

I do not like the song It's a Shame about Ray. It's lazy sounding in the worst way possible. And those little harmonizing vocals in the last chorus are not great to my ears. The song Rudderless, there's a discordant thing happening in the verses and I don't think it's working. I literally can't listen to this song. I kinda hate it. Ok, I'm maxed on this. I can't force myself through this. It's really not for me. I knew the cover Mrs. Robinson and that's pretty great but that's about the only thing working for me. Maybe the first two songs weren't bad either. 2 stars and that's a generous 2 stars.

Feels like a missing ingredient for the blue album.

This is yet another record that seems somehow indie rock. It might be ok for some, but after too many of these records I find it quite boring and only for the background.

I really enjoyed it!

Top 20 in my list of 90s albums!

1. It's A Shame About Ray 2. Mrs. Robinson 3. Rudderless

Great record. I spent the better part of my 10th and 11th grade years playing this and “Come On Feel the Lemonheads” on repeat. I have no idea how this band wasn’t bigger than they were. Everything on this record is jangly gold. 5/5

Zaczynało się dobrze, ale gdzieś w połowie płyty zmieniło się w typowe dla tamtych czasów rockowe popłuczyny i w efekcie wyszedł taki album do posłuchania w samochodzie, gdy nic innego nie leci. Chociaż wokal i szczególnie backup wokal bardzo przyjemny. 6.5/10 równane w dół.

Alternative Rock? What a soulless decade of music the 90s were then. Sweet. Forgettable.

Alright, I guess millennials would have gone crazy for this. Good songs: Frank Mills / Mrs Robinson. (Two covers and not their own) I would probably just listen to The Magnetic Fields for the same vibe

I’m a 90s kid so I fully admit bias in this review Really solid album Brings back a lot of good and not so good teen memories Simple song structure and melodies which are perfect High water mark for Dando, after that he couldn’t stop getting in his own way

Decent.

All I hear is blaaablaaBLAAAA YEAA *guitar* blaablablaBLAAAAA *guitar* YEAAAA. Good things is that each song is about 2mins long.

I will base my review on the track list of the original release of this album. Normally, I make a statement like this for an album review on this journey without any hesitation. The problem here is that I am excluding what could be considered the gateway track for this particular band. I heard about the Lemonheads because of their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which was added to subsequent re-releases of their breakthrough record, It's a Shame About Ray. I can imagine that for many people, this is the one song they will recognize from the group, much to the chagrin of frontman Evan Dando and original songwriter Paul Simon. It's a shame, pun intended, because the album this cover is retroactively associated with is pretty solid. This is an intriguing blend of jangle pop and grunge, where the guitar tones are bright and crunchy at the same time, as Evan and company blaze through a rich slice of bouncing tunes about finding bliss that ebb from character stories to strifes for bliss amidst the drug-riddled reckless abandon. There's a lot of Evan's personality that shined through in his performance and abstract lyrics, as bassist Juliana Hatfield and drummer David Ryan provided a strong foundation for these songs to be built upon. Opener "Rockin' Stroll", the title track, "Rudderless", and "Alison's Starting to Happen" were personal highlights that showcased the cheery angst this record employed throughout. If anything, my only complaint is that this record is rather short. Clocking in at under a half-hour, there were multiple instances where songs could have been expanded. I can see why people would favor inclusion of the "Mrs. Robinson" cover in later releases, yet I feel that "Frank Mills" still works as a closer. Perhaps more time in the studio would have helped in fleshing out some of these tracks. Still, I consider It's a Shame About Ray to be quite a pleasant outing for The Lemonheads. It's good to know that they are worth more than the one cover song.

Always been a damn solid album. Thankful for the re-release too because I love this version of Mrs. Robinson! Great album!

Good, but a bit too friendsy (the show).

I didn't really feel a lot for this in either direction. So, a 3 I suppose? Just not inspiring me.

This was enjoyable but there wasn’t really anything here to put it beyond that. Favorites were Confetti, Rudderless, and Frank Mills.

All sounds like one big long song. A bit boring.

It’s a rock album. Not bad, but not special by any means. It was good, but I wouldn’t seek it out.

2.5

Sounds fresh and lively for the time. Vocals have some interesting qualities but overall didn’t grab me as much as the instrumentals and genre switching. Proto-Cake.

Great title track, the rest is too druggy. Gave it away many years ago.

own

Infectious, energetic, irreverent, and stoned. The band sounds great and the songs are strong, to which you add the dulcet tones of Evan Dando.

Day552 - adam duritz had a podcast and really turned me on to the lemonheads and this album in particular. the title track has been in my playlist for a few years now

Love this album

Nothing bad, sound like most 90's alt stuff

171/1089 - Sounds like Alternative Rock. Competent but that's about it.

Imagine Simon & Garfunkel stripped down to their basic chords, throw in some gain, add bass and drums, and replace the angelic voice of Garfunkel with a weary, drug-addled, morning-after rasp - more Gram Parsons than Art Garfunkel’s angelic choirboy tenor - and you’ve got the sound of It’s a Shame About Ray. It’s Simon & Garfunkel via The Replacements or Big Star. Wondering if I mean that in a positive way? Hell yeah. Sometimes all you need are great, hooky tunes, an electric guitar, and lyrics about human relationships, alienation, or drugs. If it were that simple to stir up an album that works as well as this one, why don’t we have more of them? Just listen to: Confetti, the title track, Alison’s Starting to Happen, Kitchen, My Drug Buddy. The melodies are saccharine - in the best possible way. It’s A Shame About Ray is mostly pristine early-’90s Boston jangle/alt-rock/underground pop bangers, with L.A.’s sublight baked into the fabric. The tunes are insanely catchy, the runtime is concise, and it’s rough around the edges. In short: it’s pretty close to perfect.

I found this to be utterly unremarkable to be honest

Didn't get to listen to it fully, but from the few songs I heard it was pretty chill, basic 90's alt. I would give it another go.

I felt like this was a solid alt rock album! I think I’d only heard their cover of Mrs. Robinson before so it was fun to listen to a full album by them. For me it wasn’t anything groundbreaking but I still had a good time listening and I would pick it up again in the future.

Musically I like this, the lyrics were a little uninspired. On the faster tracks it was less noticeable but once it got to the demo versions of the songs and it was more stripped back, I noticed it more and felt like the songwriting wasn’t that great

Instantly recognized two of their songs "It's a Shame About Ray" and "Mrs. Robinson" but never put the songs with the same band nor could I have come up with the band name. Other than Drug Buddy all the other songs were really good. Guess I should have listened to this sooner!

You know, I really, truly enjoyed listening to this album. It's right up my alley, and basically each song is fun and catchy, and I honestly think quite good. My main issue is, I wish they fleshed out some of these songs a little more -- each track being only like 2.5 minutes long really makes everything just sort of drift by, and there's no chance for things to land as much as they could. Edit: the more I play this album, the more I really like it. It's really, endlessly listenable. Fave songs: - Confetti - It's A Shame About Ray - Rudderless - Bit Part - Alison's Starting to Happen - Frank Mills (shoutout musical theatre!) - Mrs. Robinson

Wasn't sure whether to give it 4 or 5, but honestly.. I had several songs stuck in my head all day yesterday, and still do today. Even learned a few on guitar. Awesome album.

4 out of 5. This was a pleasant surprise and a great collection of the 90's rock sound.

Well, I never really listened to them because none of the songs I heard really appealed to me, and now I guess I’ve listened to this album.

None of these songs really caught my attention in 1992. The (90s-style) non-edgy pop sound wasn’t quite my jam, I guess. And still isn’t. But the stretch from “Confetti” to “My Drug Buddy” is catchy—and reasonably smart. Pleasant, not life-changing. P.S. The cover of “Mrs. Robinson,” which was a B-side and added to the re-release, is *quite* good.

That's exactly the sound i loved in my teenage years, along with all the britpop. Not too much bangers, still enjoyable.

It was okay, but only one popular hit that I liked.

This is some 90s alt rock all right

Not really my jam. A bit like REM. It’s fine. Liked the lyrics

Average.

A classic. Probably their best.

Really enjoyable listen. Album had great flow. Flagged about 5 tracks and will return for a repeat listen. 3.5/5

Man, this one still holds up. I played it routinely on my college radio program throughout ‘92-93, and it sits up there with Westerberg, Soul Asylum, and similar as one of the more prominent albums ushering in the alt indie rock scene. It didn’t hurt that pretty boy Dando was voted into People’s “50 Most Beautiful” list. No doubt contributing to his cameo in 1994’s “Reality Bites” film. I was fan of Evan and crew since 1989’s album Lick that featured a really good cover of Suzanne Vega’s song “Luka”, and was lucky enough to see them at their sweet n salty candy peak a year after this release on the Come On Feel… tour. Will always have a soft spot for these guys.

Really enjoyed this one, was familiar with these guys but not sure I’ve listened to this album before. Ultimately I think it blends into other stuff from this era without truly standing out, and probably isn’t strong enough to be north of a three based on the rest of the albums we’re getting. But I liked it slightly more

Thought this was solid. Not a ton of stand outs but overall a good listen front to back.

Not sure what to make of this one considering their most popular song wasn't even on the original album... thought this was just ok other than Mrs. Robinson. Not much else to say. 2.75/5

The Mrs Robinson cover was all I remembered from this.

It's not my thing.

This came out when I was 17, and is very much of its time so it really reminds me of my youth. It is by no means outstanding, but it’s perfectly good pop, and I enjoyed it.

2.4 1x catch up 4/2 on marts

I grew up one town over from Julianna HatfieId (I'm 3 yrs younger). She was the coolest kid around. I was in college in Boston when this album came out. The Lemonheads were just a part of life. It seemed like everyone in Boston had been in this band at one point it another. Listening to this album is like having a vivid flashback of my 20s.

Some thoughtful songs with some decent instrumentals and okay singing. I liked Confetti and their cover of Mrs. Robinson didn't make me upset, so I'd say that's a win.

The amount of shock I had seeing the Lemonheads on this project was massive. You mean the guys that did that cover of Mrs. Robinson got on here? So like, are the Ataris and Alien Ant Farm here too? Because apparently being one-hit wonders where the “one-hit” is a cover is in vogue here. Actually all jokes aside, I actually think that cover is the weakest part of the album. It’s really just a standard rock cover of a classic song. Just play it faster and louder. I really have no idea how it got that popular. The actual album itself isn’t bad. It lacks variety and sounds pretty much like a lot of other 90’s rock bands, but the vibes are there. At about 30 minutes, you can do worse. If anything, it a neat reminder that there was more to rock in the 90’s outside of grunge. These guys honestly remind me of the Gin Blossoms. Their sound has that same catchy energy. God I would kill for New Miserable Experience to be on here. Anyway, this technically could be a 3, but I’m a sucker for this, so 4 it is. Favorite track (outside of Mrs. Robinson): It’s A Shame About Ray Other hits: Confetti, My Drug Buddy, Rudderless, Rockin’ Stroll, Frank Mills

A kind of casual look into early 90s alt-pop. I never got too much behind the Lemonheads because of aforementioned alt-poppiness. It wasn't bad, nor was it grabbing me by the lapels and shaking. Casual.

Fun and pleasant and inoffensive. It’s a shame about Ray is a real ear worm.

Some article called them ‘bubble grunge’. I agree. I saw Evan perform this album a few years ago with Juliana Hatfield (and musicians who were jot original Lemonheads). It was quite a surreal experience to watch two 60-year olds on stage singing songs that had meaning to them when they were in their 20s. And it was equally as surreal to see their 20-year-old selves coming through. And also, Evan Dando looked like he hated being on stage every single minute.

There were a spate of bands — in the '90s-'00s — that I cannot distinguish from one another. There's some indie rock sheen that just coats these acts and they might as well all be the same, mostly innocuous, rock outfit. Well, you can lump these guys in. The cover of "Mrs. Robinson" epitomizes the critique. It's fine. It bounces. It's got all the breaks. 100 other bands could have recorded it and done the same thing. Nothing really distinguishes it. That's my take on the entire album. It's ready for radio. That's pretty much it. It's really more in the realm of a 3-star, but I'm docking a point for its sheer lack of imagination.

Pleasant enough. Not really sure this is a must-listen, but I didn't mind the time I spent with it.

Meh 2.5 but punching it up to 3 because there’s enough negativity in the world right now

Lame

The Lemonhead’s definitely have a sound, which is to say most of their songs sound very similar. But it’s also the sound of the early 90’s soft alternative music. So if that’s your jam this album is for you.

This is nostalgia bait for me. I wasn't alive when this came out but it still feels like exactly like the first few years of my life. Not that I remember it at all. Just hits the feels. Good album all around. Just nice pop rock stuff. A little tiny bit of punk rock edge. Very very good stuff. Not perfect but pretty damn good.

A fine album, ok for the time. Not sure why it’s in the list, doesn’t sound like anything particularly special. Not awful

14/6 album 2 :

A classic

Could be the soundtrack to one of those early 90’s MTV type romantic drama/comedies. It’s fine, but nothing outstanding - I think it needs some sort of edge - like Pavement or Dinosaur Jr. has

Wow would you believe it, another album where nothing sticks out but it's not too bad? Crazy

This album has some good songs. I'm still not entirely sure why it's here, though!

Like The Triffids, this is another slice of pure 6/10 music. Nothing really stood out to me at all here.

No idea why this was on here. Not great, not terrible, just blah. It was fine.

Sort of bland... I somehow expected this to be a quirky '90s alt-teen experience. Instead the whole thing just kind of came and went. Standout: Hannah & Gabi

This album sounds unfinished and not in a good way. It's like a demo reel got pushed to production without anyone picking the best songs, or polishing them, or arranging them in an order that makes sense. Most of them are indistinguishable from each other. The cover of Mrs. Robinson is not good and sounds exactly like every other song on this album which makes me wonder if they just threw darts at the wall and said whatever, we'll do this one. I wanted to like it because it reminded me of a very specific type of mid to late 90s band I enjoy, but it wasn't nearly as good. Ended up making me frustrated instead.

Solid album, not my cup of tea

I actually really enjoyed this.

Good but not memorable or unique. Sounds very old-school at times considering its from the 90s. Best songs (on first listen): Bit Part, Mrs Robinson

Empecé a escucharlo y me pareció muy básico.

Overall: 6/10 These guys make pretty decent mid-tempo jangle rock, but that seems to be their only schtick. There's not really a bad song but nothing stood out as exceptional either. Reminded me of a less noisy Dinosaur Jr. My favourite song was the country influenced Hannah and Gabi, which was the only song to really break from the formula. Fav Song: Hannah and Gabi Least Fav Song: My Drug Buddy

Late night braums walk, detail transfer for work on the porch. Rain to sleep

James Earl Ray, absolutely. Ray Charles? Absolutely not.

Good stuff

Satans She-Males covered Its A Shame About Ray so it’s special.

not bad, but not a lot of variety

Absolutely nothing remarkable about this band. I recognized their cover of "Mrs. Robinson" but it's not as good as the original so who cares.

The first album on here that I wouldn't have minded not listening to if i were to die tomorrow , unremarkable sound and lyrics

Favorite track: It's a shame about ray. Overall score: 6.3/10

It's alright. Doesn't fit the list to me but it's not bad.

Meh, its really just the same song and tune over and over and OVER again.

average but feels pretty good

11/1001. Should this list be more like 1001 similar albums? Maybe not too fair, but for me this album is here because a) the book is getting old, and b) someone was a fan of brit pop back then. Back in the 90s this was ok, I guess, and in 2025 this album doesn't really qualify even for that. It's perhaps a nice document of an era which came and went, nothing everlasting for me in this album. I agree the best tune is the cover of Simon & Garfunkel, and who gets the credit for that? It's a shame about Lemonheads.

from the first chord to the last, i love this album.

Classic 90s sounding band for sure. Never heard of them. Was a fun listen

Nah!

Pretty standard fair 90s alt rock to be honest. I enjoy it as a fan of the genre but it doesn't blow me away in any capacity. Your biggest song being a cover isn't a great look either.

Aburridoooo

Really loved this, great sound from them. Only thing stopping me from giving it a 5 is how similar-sounding some of the tracks are, would’ve liked to see some different stuff in there

Solid

Truth nuke

Forgettable until that awful closing track

Another record that I shunned at the time, this is cake, light, welcome, doesn’t hang around or leave much of a trace. There’s a place for cake. I can’t remember why I shunned the Lemonheads, or the extent to which I was influenced by whatever I read in Melody Maker, but Dando’s handsomeness may have had a part, perhaps the band’s lightness too, the inference of unseriousness, the casual cruelty of scene judgments, bracketing the earnest with accusations of dilettantism on one side and pretentiousness on the other. Heroin seemed the standard prescription.

Evan Dando hung around the early '90s like a chronic illness; Juliana Hatfield, too - were they supposed to be "cute"? This album left no impression on me whatsoever in 1992, and left me with nothing today. The Simon & Garfunkel cover is *atrocious*. Insipid.

chill, unoffensive, grungy rock.

An above average rock album. I don't usually listen to bonus tracks, but I was curious about Mrs. Robinson, and it turned out to be maybe the best track. I might have even heard it before, not sure. I'll give this album another listen in the future. A low 4/5.

Decent album which was easy to listen to. Some nice tracks but didn’t quite get over the hump to a 4. Solid 3.5.

En klassiker och det är nog Lemonheads bästa skiva.

College rock at it's semi-finest. Falls just short of punk, but not dirty enough to be grunge. Fun, easy to listen to, quirky.

OMG was ist das für ein Gitarrengeschrammel. Und wenn der beste Song ein Cover eines 60er Jahre Songs ist... Ich werde meine Ohren gleich mal mit etwas spannenderem beruhigen, die Liste hat noch Soundgarden - Superunknown für mich auf Lager. Es kann nur besser werden.

Rating: 3 Notable songs: it's a shame about Ray I didnt think I'd like this album but it grew on me as it went on. Its definitely a slow burner but a decent little album with a unique sound

Not that bad, but is pretty boring and does nothing to establish itself as a must-hear album

Enjoyable album, nothing stands out too much.

One I really liked from back in the day, but haven’t listened to in a very long time. I loved it! Right up my music alley! Power chords and harmonies. Would give 4 1/2 stars if possible, but I'll call it a 4.

Generic rock album, nothing to add.

It's a pleasant and easy to listen to album, kind of feels like "the first rock album you should listen to". I'm a bit disappointed by how similar the bits are to each other, but at least it's not offensively bad.

I forgot how good this album is. It's very good. Favorite songs are "Confetti", "It's A Shame About Ray" and "Mrs. Robinson". I enjoyed the demos.

I liked this album when it came out and it still holds up for me. Confetti is probably my favorite song by The Lemonheads. I didn’t need all the acoustic versions of the songs tho. I skipped thru them.

It's a shame it's not just a bit better|.

Hide it from the kids.

And about this album

Decent alternative album

Fine, generic 90's rock. Not much else. And honestly, even though I've listened to Mrs. Robinson a million times, after listening to it with critical ears, the only reason their version is good is because the song is good. They didn't add much except a change of style. But, it's still 90's rock, which means it's better than a lot of stuff out there.

Loving this sort of soft punk rock vibe, remind me of social distortion

Consistently delightful album for decades. Not a thing out of place, yet never tiring.

I never took The Lemonheads seriously back in the day, owing I think to the band's name, which I thought was a joke, and their devastatingly handsome, goofy lead singer. Which is too bad, because holy crap Evan Dando can write songs! I hear lots of good echoes here, including The Replacements, The Smithereens, R.E.M., Elvis Costello and Big Star. The update of "Mrs. Robinson" is great but so are "My Drug Buddy," "Rudderless" and "Hannah & Gabi."

Loved the covers! Frank Mills was a hilarious delight!

Better than I expected, though all the tacked-on demos of the expanded / anniversary edition added nothing. This record came out when I was doing college radio , I remember playing a few cuts from it but not hearing the whole thing . Then they had a huge single hit with the Mrs. Robinson cover, which had to be tacked on to a re-release of this record soon after. Because I didnt think the cover was all that, I ignored this record at the time, which was a shame. Good songs, nice production.

I did not realize Juliana Hatfield played bass on this. It's a good album. I don't think I ever gave it a full listen before.

It's a decent album but not nearly good enough or noteworthy enough in my eyes to deserve a slot here. I did find "Frank Mills" funny though. I've thought about writing this about some of the previous 90s albums, and I think it's appropriate to put here on It's A Shame About Ray: it's an injustice that there isn't anything by The Cranberries on the 1,001 list. They're a way better, way more influential, and way more distinctive alt rock act with material from around the same time as this Lemonheads album. I'd swap any of the 4 Cranberries albums from the 1990s for this one, but especially 1994's No Need to Argue. (Think I'm going to permit myself a Cranberries rant about once every 200 album reviews and steadily up the length each time.)

This was a Rockin’ Stroll with lots of Confetti.

2 - kind of mid

2.8 The most average rock album I've heard in a while. I've never heard a Rembrandts album but that's pretty much exactly how I imagine it would sound. Like an REM or Nirvana-lite without any hooks. Quite fitting that the only song I found interesting on the album, Bit Part, was ruined by the sample at the start making it impossible to throw onto any playlists. Good one guys.

outside of the well known song this was an ok rock album! short!

Ms Robinson is a nice cover. The rest of the album is ok, but nothing great. Hence the middle of the road score of 3.

Not knock your socks off or this is awful. It’s in the middle

I have a soft spot for fuzzy punkish bands and this is one of them. They sound really solid, play their stuff really well, dudes voice is close to being too whiny but doesn’t cross the line. This wasn’t an album I’ll ever put back on again but it is one I enjoyed and would have fond memories of if someone put it on or talked about it.

it's a shame all I can associate this album with is high school boyfriend & the fact that this was all he listened to before we broke up

Not for me

A couple of fun songs on here.

This is very good - let it loop several times and enjoyed it all the way through.

Punk lite? Proto pop punk? Feels like Tom Petty trying out some alt rock and punk. Slide Guitar from Hannah & Gabi seems really out of place on the album. It was fine but not really my thing.

To me this sounds like an album you would have listened to at a pool party as a middle schooler. It does seem ahead of its time though. I would have guessed 2002, not 1992. 4/10

This review is gonna read like a roast... The vocalist kinda sounds like he showed up in the wrong place and is doing his best to make sure nobody notices, lol. The songs sounded so similar to each other that it was disorienting. This is one "save tonight" ass chord progression on "confetti". This ain't it for me my friends

Listen, there’s nothing wrong with this album, unlike some other bottom feeders of my rankings. But god damn it is unforgivably boring to me.

Nice little album

It's not my cup of tea, but they seem talented.

Idk it’s fine but I don’t think it belongs here? Trying to be edgy with that bright of a guitar is confusing to me