California

I almost feel like I owe this one an apology. I was totally unimpressed by the first track and thought this’d definitely be a 2-star album. Starting with “laughingstock,” though, the slow, wistful tone caught my attention. The album feels weirdly inconsistent in quality and tone, and while I had the sense by the end that the good outweighed the bad, it was too spotty and the highs not high enough to inspire a rating higher than 3. Still, though, this was a better and more interesting listen than I first assumed it would be. Favorites: Pale skinny girl, Jenny, Highway 5, last harbor

At first, I wasn't that excited about this record. I thought is was derivative. "California" sounds like a pastiche of 1990's AOR highlights. With each song, another 90's songwriting style is represented. Right away, I heard The Tragically Hip, Elliot Smith, Jon Spencer, Wilco, Afghan Whigs, and Toad The Wet Sprocket's underrated debut represented. Then I looked at when this album was released. 1988?!? Holy shit... Mark Eitzel and company predicted and guided the future of Indie Rock throughout the 90's and beyond (Sufjan Stevens anyone?) All those artists I heard in this music owe American Music Club a serious debt of gratitude. Color me impressed.

What in the blue Laurel Canyon hell is this

I definitely hear the markings of many 1990s sounds in here!

Enjoyable alt-country. Clever writing but feels a little more produced than I care for.

Interesting that this is among the few albums that isn't available on Spotify. I wonder if it's because this band is too obscure or because they're taking a stand against Spotify? Anyhow, this album sounds like typical 90's alt rock, though given that it was released in 1988 I suppose it may have been a little ahead of its time?

Never heard of this band and listening to the album didn't give me the sense that I should have. Maybe mostly mediocre, but deducting a star for 1) taking another better album's spot on this list, and 2) taking up my time.

Hard to find. Spotify said no Prodigy said no. I found a You tube download. I enjoyed listening to the album. I placed it in my rotation of stuff to liten to.

It starts out promising, and then quickly derails because it's literally too quiet to enjoy, and is too slow to enjoy. You're better off listening to "California" by Phantom Planet instead. Favorite Track: "Bad Liquor".

Boring for me personally, only got through 2 songs. Though American accent doesn't bother me.

The album is not available on streaming :-(

this feels like the equivalent of a bad hallmark movie

I listened to California two days ago and couldn't recall a thing about it now, except that it was not bad. Relistening led to the same conclusion: nice, but utterly unmemorable.

Better than their other stuff, but a bit depressing.

meh

Had to haul ass over to SoulSeek for this one, not exactly a worthwhile venture. It's acceptable enough, I guess? It does sound ahead of its time, which is impressive, but the sound is bland, and if it did come out in the 1990s, it'd fall into obscurity.

had to find the album on YouTube. I liked the diversity. A little bit of indie, country, and soft rock. Surprising to hear from the 80s.

Couldn’t tell you why but I kinda dug this one.

I haven’t been sleeping well and the first thing I do in the morning is listen to these albums so when I say it felt like a fever dream, it has nothing to do with the music and more my state of mind.

A collection of songs that aimed to be great, but alas.

not available on spotify. listened to everclear instead. 1 or 2

Meh background music.

There was a time in my life I would have rated a guitar singer-songwriter sad guy album like this 4 or 5 stars. I'm glad that time is not now.

Surprised I was unfamiliar with this album. Early alt country every, before alt country was a thing. Didn't have the bombast that would come later. Reminded me of The Jayhawks. Really great album.

Well, I would have listened to it ... but unavailable on Spotty

Interesting album having a blend of music styles.

Best Song: Sometime This is kind of whatever. It's not bad and it sure isn't great. 3/5.

This was good, but in the way that you go to a bar that has live music and you think "Hey, these guys aren't bad."

Nice, in a mediocre way. Nothing great.

It sounds so basic that it's bad

Had to go digging for this album. Kinda dug it.

Enjoyable, though not very engaging. 6/10

Never heard of this band but really liked this. Some really nice songs and varied throughout

laughingstock is good. album feels alright, nothing incredibly special by my standards.

#655. Nope 2/5: don't want

Seems a little less than necessary for 1001. It is a bit more than usual lyrically: I am enjoying paying attention. So, not exceptional but competent and occasionally intriguing.

Well, I guess it’s telling that I listened to this twice. I’d never come across this album before but was sucked in by how easy it was to listen to. Deceptively easy perhaps. This has a possibility that it would incrementally garner a higher rating every time because I feel it growing on me and I can hear so many influences that I really love. Currently stands at a 3.5.

I recognized the name of this band, but not any of the songs. From the beginning, the singer reminded me a bit of Evan Dando. The song Bad Liquor seemed like it belonged to a completely different album/band. One of the songs near the end was reminiscent of Elliott Smith and then another had a very The The/

I listened to the band's 1991 release, Everclear, as California was not available on Spotify. I don't have anything radical to uncork, it was a bit bland but never terrible. A little too self-aware, maybe? It's hovering around a 2.5, but I'm gonna go with a 3 as this was not really valid anyway.

I didn't really get this one. Maybe I need to give it another listen, but the guy's voice really made it a struggle to give a shit.

I know they came before and probably influenced Duritz, but the smack in the face jolt I got from picturing Counting Crows was wild. Hard to separate the two. It’s that uncanny

Bueno

Acoustic indie folk with polish that is reminiscent of the Decemberists but less hooky. Good sound train for a rainy Sunday afternoon lounging around the house.

This feels like the prequel to something more famous. The whole thing has a lo-fi charm. Soft, gloomy alt with decent bones. Spins: 1 No Spotify, No Playlist Additions.

I had to look up these guys. They look/sound like that band that has a great work ethic and have had to jump between labels to get their exposure. But, at the same time, they sound like an indie version of Counting Crows. There were some nice melodies, I actually really enjoyed 'Jenny' a finger picking ballad with melodica/accordion part. However, there's nothing exciting to grip me. I only get one listen. And I'm not sure a second would make me any more excited about this. Bog standard, pop rock. 3 stars. Good on you, American Music Club for not being on Spotify!

It’s such a dumb idea to give your band a generic name when your sound is also pretty basic. Bad band name, bad album name and cover. No wonder this shit just isn’t registering with most people. That said, I was very taken with this record. The songwriting and performances are good and earnest. The guy’s voice is really not unique or attention-getting, but that helps with the down to earth quality. I could see myself seeing these guys at a local bar and getting really into the show by the end. Just kinda good vibes. I wouldn’t call this a must-listen, but it is very good.

This album (that I had to find on YouTube) has moments of brilliance scattered here and there throughout mostly folksy Americana garbage. If this album was considered important enough to be on this list, then why hasn't the band made it available to stream on Apple Music? That alone speaks volumes.

The book mentioned these guys compared THEMSELVES to R.E.M. and were surprised when they hit it big instead. Tt's pretty obvious why. None of these songs are big radio hits. They're personal stories for members of the band. There's no broader appeal unless you're into moody, emotional melancholia.

This one had a few moments I liked, even if it didn’t totally pull me in. It’s got that slow, moody alt vibe, which worked in spots but also dragged a bit at times. “Firefly” was cool, “Blue and Grey Shirt” had that really sad, stripped down feel, and “Bad Liquor” stood out with that rockabilly sound. Those were the ones that kept me interested. Outside of those tracks, it didn’t leave much of an impression.

Not bad but didn’t need to hear this before I died.

This album took me by surprise. I was not expecting much but found myself jamming out to the album from the beginning to the end. The only complaint I have is that it ended too soon!

I don’t need more sad cowboys in my life thank you

A response to a top comment Part 1: "I can't believe this needs to be said, but "this isn't on Spotify" isn't remotely a legitimate criticism of an album" I agree Part 2: "Spotify is a cancer on music (even more so than the rest of the industry) and is for soccer moms and other "I like to have something on in the background" casuals. If you have such limited resources that your only place to listen to music is Spotify and YouTube ("o noes, there are ads, whatever will I do!??"), that's your problem" I disagree with Spotify being for "background" music "casuals". I think it is one of the greatest tools for easily discovering lots of music. For me, I have been able to discover and listen to so much with Spotify. Without it, the barrier to entry to my level of listening would be very very high. Before Spotify, the kinds of people who would have used Spotify as background music would then tend to just listen to pre-selected radio. Spotify gives "music listening superusers" so much more of an ability to explore. I think it is very easy to hate on Spotify and be closed-minded to all that it has opened up. There are issues of course, specifically for artists, yet I think saying Spotify has caused people to use it as background music is quite dismissive. In fact, I would argue more people customize and explore their music now than in the time of radio

Unexpectedly good. Stays into rawk now and again, but quickly finds its indie/avant garde way. No reason at all to call the band that.

very slow and not my cuppa

Music existed before Spotify so if you can't be bothered to go on YouTube more fool you. This was another okay album. Folky indie which felt quite ahead of its time for the late 80s, but now sounds like a lot of things you'd hear at an open mic. Nothing particularly special but some well written songs. Bad Liquor felt out of place.

It was alright I guess. Nothing really gripping or memorable except for a weird louder song in the middle which also suddenly stopped, but that might be the YouTube version.

I like this album. That being said, I cannot imagine thinking people need to listen to this before they die. The singer kind of reminds me of Evan Dando. I enjoyed it. But again, not essential IMO.

2.7 1x catch up 11/12

## In-Depth Review: American Music Club's *California* (1988) ### **Overview** Released in 1988 on Frontier Records, *California* is American Music Club's third studio album and a landmark in alternative rock. Fronted by Mark Eitzel, the band fused country, post-punk, and folk into a sound that critics hailed as "Cosmic American Music" . Despite limited commercial success, it was included in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* and remains a cult classic for its emotional depth and innovation . --- ### **Lyrics: Poetic Descents into Despair** Eitzel’s lyrics are the album’s core, blending bleak introspection with dark humor: - **Loneliness and Alienation**: Tracks like "Lonely" ("If I have to be this lonely, I may as well be alone") and "Blue and Grey Shirt" ("I’m tired of being a spokesman for every tired thing") dissect isolation with raw vulnerability . - **Addiction and Lost Dreams**: "Bad Liquor" confronts alcoholism head-on, while "Western Sky" mirrors Nick Drake’s "Northern Sky" in its portrayal of shattered aspirations ("You may feel the parade has passed you by") . - **Narrative Subtlety**: "Jenny" and "Firefly" use minimalist storytelling, comparing fleeting love to fireflies that "don’t live too long" . Eitzel’s delivery oscillates between whispered confession and ragged intensity, evoking Leonard Cohen or a "drunken Tim Buckley" . ### **Music: Genre-Blurring Soundscapes** The instrumentation transcends 1980s indie conventions: - **Alt-Country Foundations**: Bruce Kaphan’s pedal steel guitar weaves through "Firefly" and "Western Sky," adding melancholic texture . - **Post-Punk Ferocity**: "Bad Liquor" (1:59) and "Highway 5" channel The Replacements’ raucous energy, with Vudi’s guitars veering from dissonant noise to "Cosmic American" twang . - **Dynamic Contrasts**: Tracks like "Laughingstock" juxtapose sparse verses with explosive choruses, foreshadowing post-rock’s quiet-loud dynamics . The closing ballad "Last Harbor" (4:35) builds a tidal wave of grief with strings and mandolin . ### **Production: Atmospheric Yet Dated** Self-produced with Tom Mallon: - **Strengths**: The mix emphasizes intimacy, placing Eitzel’s voice and acoustic guitars forward. Kaphan’s pedal steel shimmers with reverb, creating a "cinematic" aura . - **Flaws**: Critics note a "thin" 1980s sheen, particularly in drum tones, which undermines the music’s weight . The lo-fi demos of unreleased tracks (e.g., B-sides) further highlight uneven quality . ### **Themes: Californian Disillusionment** The album deconstructs the West Coast mythos: - **Failed Utopias**: "Somewhere" satirizes consumerist escapism ("She sinks into the capitalist chair"), while "Highway 5" frames landscapes as "futile expressions of bitterness" . - **Existential Fatigue**: Recurring motifs of defeat ("Now You’re Defeated") and emotional exhaustion reflect Eitzel’s view of California as a "killing dream of happiness" . ### **Influence: The Unseen Architects** *California*’s legacy is outsized despite obscurity: - **Genre Pioneering**: It helped codify "slowcore" (Red House Painters, Codeine) and "alt-country" (Wilco, Silver Jews) with its languid tempos and roots-rock fusion . - **Artist Impact**: Bands like Radiohead, Slint, and Elbow drew from its textural guitars and introspective lyricism . Critics liken Eitzel to Elliott Smith in his unflinching vulnerability . - **Cultural Status**: Its absence from streaming platforms (until Bandcamp reissues) fueled its myth, with fans dubbing it "the great lost album of the 1980s" . --- ### **Pros vs. Cons** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | **Songwriting**: Eitzel’s lyrics blend poetic depth with dark wit ("You can be Miss Bottomless Pit of 1983") . | **Production**: "Thin" 1980s drums and reverb occasionally date the sound . | | **Emotional Resonance**: Tracks like "Last Harbor" and "Blue and Grey Shirt" are devastating in their honesty . | **Accessibility**: Slow tempos and bleak themes polarize listeners; some dismiss it as "lethargic" . | | **Musical Innovation**: Fusion of country, post-punk, and folk pushed alt-rock boundaries . | **Availability**: Physical copies are rare/expensive ($45+); streaming limited until recent Bandcamp reissues . | | **Influence**: Cemented AMC’s role in shaping 1990s alternative scenes . | **Vocals**: Eitzel’s "forced" delivery divides critics; some find it "endearing," others "stilted" . | --- ### **Verdict** *California* is a masterpiece of emotional and musical alchemy, transforming despair into transcendent art. While its production quirks and challenging themes limit mainstream appeal, its lyrical brilliance and genre-defying soundscapes make it a seminal work. As one reviewer notes: "It’s the sort of record you need to spend time with to fully appreciate—a slow grower that reveals timeless beauty" . **Essential for fans of:** Nick Drake, Talk Talk, early Wilco. > 💽 **Where to Listen**: Available on Bandcamp; physical copies scarce (check resellers) .

This was hard to find - not on any streaming services as far as I can tell, at least not any that I have access to. I think I listened to it - there was a version of it on YouTube, although there was one song somewhere in the middle that didn’t seem to fit all that well. In any case, didn’t like it. Not even a bit. Nothing of interest for me here at all. Not a fan. Period.

Wasnt on apple music-- Single play through on youtube. Mid

Two or three pretty good tracks on this album, but I found the rest all quite mediocre.

Very sweet and wistful. Really liked 'Laughingstock', and the words to 'Lonely'. Real Dire Straits sound to 'Blue and Grey Shirt'. Love the Elliott Smith sound to 'Jenny'. Love 'Western Sky' - gorgeous final notes/chords on 'crying' at the end. Hard to pick out favourites because it's all cohesively a lovely mournful sound (except for 'Bad Liquor' which is the one I like the least). 'Last Harbor' - "Are you gonna be my last harbor?" is such a gorgeous line. Great end to the album.

Eh. I guess. It's a whatever sound. Sounded later than its time but I'm not missing anything here

Alright if you like melancholy 80s alt country a la Giant Sand. A slew of people became huge in the proceeding decades doing the same thing at about the same level.

Music was good and dark but they guy was just kinda whaling the whole time.

Pretty great listen, chill vibes along with nice slow guitars. Makes you feel like you're sitting in a field maybe an abandoned farm but feeling rather happy with where you are. Maybe sitting in a quiet city watching people walk past you and feeling content in where you are and where you're going.

Really more of a 1.5, but rounding up out of respect for anyone’s dad in a garage band, which is what this sounds like. “Now You’re Defeated” was particularly painful, and the rest blurred together in a haze of vocals that made me beg for auto-tune and samey, same-same arrangements. “Firefly” might’ve stood out more if it hadn’t been followed by an entire album that sounds just like it.

Hmmm, no. Este álbum no pinta nada en esta lista. La voz es horrible, y las composiciones son un rock alternativo muy lento con toques country que no me ha atrapado en ningún momento. Me ha recordado a Elbow, lo cual no dice mucho a su favor. Lo que sí me ha gustado bastante han sido las letras. Muy introspectivas, cínicas y pesimistas, pura desesperación poética. Pero no llega a ser suficiente para darle mejor nota. Estaba deseando que se acabara, la verdad.

Indie Rock / Americana / Slowcore. I wasn't sure what Slowcore was, but it's also known as Sadcore which I think says it all. Is it Rock or is it Country - I'm not sure. Think of a slower, more sombre, sadder version of the Eagles - quite pleasant, but a bit boring and slightly depressing. Unable to play on Spotify without an upgrade, but found the full album on YouTube.

Felt pretty neutral about this one. I suppose it fits into the generic rock category, but nothing really stood out. Everything sounded fine but the same across the board. It didn’t grab me, just floated by. I didn’t look up the lyrics this time, and nothing made me want to. It’s decent background music (harmless, maybe even comforting), but I don’t think I’d come back to it. Might give it another spin in a different mood or setting just to be sure or place more attention to the lyrics, but for now it’s a 2 that leans a little boring. It's not awful it's just uninteresting.

that Bad Liquor song was pretty good. The rest?....

Good indie rock album. To bad Its only available on Youtube as a full album. Would love to add a few of the songs on my playlists.

It's ok, banned in every country tho

Started alright but I pretty quickly got bored with this one.

Album is not on Spotify, but is available on Bandcamp if you want to listen without being interrupted by YouTube ads. Review: Not my cup of tea, but I'll try to be objective. The lyrics are actually pretty good - the kind of definitive American folk poetry that would land this album on this list. The music is well done for what it is, but is only interesting in patches, while meandering into poorly done country at times. The vocals range from not memorable to just talking. I want to give this at least a "mixed rating" for being different, but there are literally no moments I truly enjoyed on this. 2.0/5.0: Bad

not on spotify but i wont hold that against it. i found it pretty easily on youtube-though i wish that i hadnt. if you make the same mistake of listening to it, be sure to turn on incognito mode so youtube doesn't recommend you more of this lifeless drivel.

Pretty cool but not on Spotify

its alright but red house painters basicslly perfected the slowcore/acousticish alt rock sound so what’s the point

Started strong but too much filler later on.

Great album to fall asleep to! 4/10

Unavailable on Apple Music.

So good – humane and heartfelt, warm and contemplative. Maybe the invention of Americana, maybe not – but still great, with skillfully modulated vibes and tasteful, nuanced playing, honest/earnest vocals, Streaming services – let's get with it and add this.

Pleasant until it becomes dull.

didn't stick with me

bad liquor was -- ondanks titel-- goed... rest was nogal slaapverwekkend

1.5/2

Passing along the Bandcamp link to hear the album (may not be on other platforms): https://americanmusicclub1.bandcamp.com/album/california-digi-only-release I was greeted warmly by the opening track (“Firefly”), a pleasant surprise of a song. Ended up enjoying the album overall; just a few weaker tracks on first listen. For 1988, quite good…

This was a musical time capsule for me. The only think missing was me tuning my radio to find the signal as the first song starts to play. The music is good, and it transports me to a late 70's classic rock band kind of place. I don't think this band was going for nostalgia, I just think that this take on the genre is in their bones. While I can't really tease out hits (not sure they had any), the whole album rings true. I wish they had garnered more recognition when they hit the scene.

4/5

Was excited to finally get something I’ve never heard of, turns out there’s a good reason for that. Bang average dime a dozen boring middle of the road rock that should nowhere near any best albums list. There’s not a memorable or interesting song on it.

Ehh?? California was easy enough to listen to, but it muddled together too well. It contained indie rock but also dream pop and country, all which made for a smooth listen. The only remarkable thing about this album is that it belongs more in the mid-aughts, so kudos to American Music Club for being so ahead of the curve in 1988. Also, what a boring and generic band name.

Wikipedia describes this album as "indie Americana", and I think that's a perfect genre label. That said, what comes with such territory is a label of "kind of bland". Like so many albums that tread this space, it was inoffensive, but ultimately pretty unremarkable. Coming out in 1988, it does feel ahead of its time, but that just isn't quite enough to win me over. 2.5-ish, not enough to want to round up.

very hard to access as an album, not on streaming, sounded good, enjoyed a couple tracks, not bad but i won’t be listening to it again

Dang. I've never heard somebody try to be Bruce Springsteen so hard. And then to call the album "California"? C'mon. Other than that, it's an enjoyable album. Not one that I would come back to, but it sounded good. The back half of the album was kinda sad and dreary.

"American Music Club? Why do I know that name?" *fires up Wiki* Oh yes, Eitzel's band pre-solo-Eitzel. Well, we know what we're going to get here and it's very pleasant indeed. Was this radically different from any other AMC / Eitzel albums? Not really, so a slightly odd inclusion on the list, but enjoyed returning to it regardless.

Started off interesting then it kinda became generic, probably won’t revisit anytime soon

Bad liquor y Now you're defeated fueron mis canciones favoritas. Lástima que este album no esté en ninguna plataforma para escucharlo (lo escuché en youtube). Mucho de este album podría existir en el soundtrack de una película feel good. Me da mucha nostalgia por una época que no me tocó vivir.

Way overrated hipster b.s... It was not worth the trouble I went to find somewhere to listen to this album.

Not sure why this one is included. It's a hard ok. 2.5.

This is like, your uncle's band playing at your other cousin's wedding as a favor to some other relative that in hindsight was a huge mistake. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 1/5

Never heard of these guys, but not bad! This album was 1988 but it sounds like something from a decade later. Lead singer was kind of off for me, not bad but didn't quite hit the mark. There was some genre-smashing too: some folkier stuff, some harder rock sounding. Enjoyed the slide guitar in "Firefly" and wish there had been more. The beginning of the album hooked me but then lost me a bit by the end. Standouts were "Firefly" "Somewhere" "Lonely" and maybe "Bad Liquor" There were a couple slower songs I didn't quite gel with, but some others I really liked. Hard to chose between 3 or 4 stars on this one but it's gotta be 3. It all just needed a little more. But the bones of this album I think are really nice.

Can’t find it

Tasteful instrumentation. The singing isn’t my thing, but it’s a worthy listen.

A band that deserves a bit more fame and/or notoriety that it received in its day, and certainly more than it is remembered today. Intelligent, morose, diverse songs. Like a good version of The National.

Très correct, c'est le genre de musique que quand tu tombe dessus à la radio, tu reste sur le poste, de peur de tomber sur pire.

Well, that's a weird one... I had really never heard of this band, although it kinda fits my taste. This is really obscure, and no, you can't find it on Spotify (but you can find it on YouTube). It's a 6,5/10 for me and I'll round that to a four-star-rating but that is a bit too positive. It's really erratic, that's my biggest problem. Oh no, that's not true. My biggest problem is the opening track: 'Firefly'. That's by far the weakest track of the album, I would almost call it horrible. How could they choose this as an opening track? These were the old days that people went to a record store and tried listening to them... Some songs are genuinely nice and beautiful, 'Blue and grey shirt' is probably my favourite, 'Pale and skinny girl' is very nice as well.

Nice listening, simplistic melodies and lyrics

nice little folky indie stuff but not much to note

Hard to believe this is from 1988. Sounds like bland music from the mid-70s, not very well executed. Not great vocals, inane lyrics, derivative music. There are many different reasons for me to disagree that an album should be on this list. It’s the not good ones that are also not innovative that annoy me the most.

Damn, what a borefest

This is just too mediocre, I guess I have to buy the book now to know what the rationale is for including it in the list. Was there really nothing else more worthwhile? Unforgettable, irrelevant, inconsequential

Has moments but the country tinged elements bring the whole thing down for me. I wish it would've rocked out more.

Obscure indie band, almost empty Wikipedia page, very few Youtube views. Could be interesting, could be boring as heck which would explain its obscurity. Keen on at least giving it a chance, but admittedly feeling a bit skeptical. Going into this with somewhat diminished expectations. Hoping to be surprised. Firefly Very average. The steel guitar gives it a distinguished sound at least. Lyrically it's pretty cliché, lacking anything that really sticks out. Has a repetitive guitar riff that gets a bit tiring after a while, luckily the song is short. Flat drums. Average. 2.5/5 Somewhere Muddled, abrasive vocals. Kinda like the electric guitar on this track, though the acoustic guitar kinda overwhelms it. Average chorus. The writing on this song isn't terrible. Average. 2.5/5 Laughing Stock It's alright I suppose. Has some cute moments, specifically in the buildup to the chorus. The acoustic guitar is pretty pleasant, and some of the lyrics are decently memorable. I did enjoy the instrumental outro, though the full stop ahead of it wasn't executed too well making it feel a bit awkward. Fine. 3/5 Lonely I don't know how to phrase this so I'll just be blunt about it: That was a bit shit. Whiny and annoying vocals. Standard issue misanthrope anthem with a bland instrumental and boring writing. Awful. 1/5 Pale Skinny Girl Hoplessly forgettable. Builds up into nothing. Has a few moments where something is almost going on, but they sort of just peter out into thin air. Is fairly inoffensive if a tad boring. Dislike. 2/5 Blue And Grey Shirt Sounds sincere. The lyrics held my attention, and the vocals did a decent job making them feel alive. Pleasant, the steel guitar helps. A bit too bare bones to be anything special. Fine. 3/5 Bad Liquor An unexpected but welcome change of energy. An alright piece of garage rock with a spirited vocal performance and some cool blaring harmonica. I like the impact the drums make. A bit on the short side. Bonus points for switching it up. Fine. 3/5 Now You're Defeated Has a lot of character. The vocalist is reall belting out those lyrics which do sound quite sincere and untarnished. The cpuntry adjacent instrumental adds to a kind of drunken atmosphere, which while sounding a bit amateurish creates a bit of a visual for the song. Not too exciting, yet not terrible. Fine. 3/5 Jenny Cringe lyrics. Uncomfortable vocals. By the numbers instrumental. Feels breathy and undercooked. Awful. 1/5 Western Sky An alright piece of songwriting. Quite like the picture painted by the lyrics, feels visually striking. Performed in perhaps the most boring way possible. While it's not completely uninteresting it fails at being anything worth revisiting. Average. 2.5/5 Highway 5 Has some decent buildup. Quite enjoyed the noisy background guitar with its squeals and heavy effects. The vocalist tries to be dynamic with his voice, but it just ends up sounding odd. Wish they put some more emphasis on the drums in the buildup. Fine. 3/5 Last Harbor The vocalist has neither the charisma or vocal ability to alone carry such a sparse song leading to quite a boring and unsatisfying listen. I'll give some credit to the lyrics, as they're again pretty distinctly written. However no lyrics can save this absolute snoozefest of a track. Dislike. 2/5 Nothing. This album made me feel absolutely nothing. It's hard to say anything interesting about something so uninteresting. The one thing I'll give it is that it sounds quite real. As in there's not a single moment of insincerity on this, which is quite refreshing coming from the ultra processed musical landscape of today. This really comes across in the lyrics, that while wonky at times do have a unique and singular quality to them. While listening to this one can clearly tell the writer really poured their soul into some of these lines. You can tell the band is doing their best to fulfill a vision of sorts. The result... Something quite boring, which also fails at being meaningful or clever. While they try their hand on a few different styles none of them seem to stick the landing, leading to a bit of a messy and undercooked result. I'm also struggling a bit with the lead singer's voice as it at times sort of just meshes with the background noise and at other times it's just bad. I wish there was a bit more to this thing, but as it stands it's just completely forgettable. 2.5/5 Rounded down to a 2/5

3.5/5

The whole album was unavailable on Spotify, which is something that I don't think I've seen before. I had to go on YouTube and listen to it there, but luckily it was a short listen. Overall, not a bad album, pretty chill and nice for background listen.

Their third album. Somewhere is a decent track, a bit cheesy. The kind of tune that'd be in an 80s high school movie during a montage sequence. Hhhmm... a pretty bland album. There's nothing awful about it, however it doesn't grab my attention anywhere along the way either. I like my toast with butter and or jam. This is plain brown dry toast.

Feels ahead of its time but not did grab me. Did make me check out the rest of their catalog though! Recommend "sick of food"

This was...just ok...? I don't really remember anything about it, honestly. It's really spaced out and sparse in parts. It has some really genuine moments, some moments that seem authentic and inspired. But I'm sorry - "You're so pretty baby/you're the prettiest thing I've known" is such a bad, corny ass line that it really set a bad tone for me and this album. There may be some cool moments but at its core, this is basic, boring overly-safe soft rock that somehow found its way onto this list. That doesn't mean it's bad for what it is, it's just boring. Two stars. Standout Tracks: Bad Liquor

What is this, Aldi brand Bruce Springsteen? (Bryce Sprangstien).

Can’t find on Spotify but what I did listen to was meh. Pretty bland

Started off okay with the idea that it will get better, but somehow it drifts to a rather sombre and mono tone drawl. Disappointed.

Not much here that I enjoyed, appreciate the effort

Highway 5 was great

Dear Robert Dimery or whoever wrote this book, please stop wasting my time. This definitely isn't a bad album. But, (I've said this on another review and I'll say it again), if you're gonna make a list like this so USA+UK focused, you might as well pick the best of the best, not mediocre third tier artists like this. So much of amazing music from all around the world is being overlooked in favour of...this. Would I revisit: no.

As if the Cure decided to be brooding with a country vibe.

An overwhelming sensation of uselessness is the perfect way I’d describe this album.

It's alright!

It was okay

ok

just reading that it's alternative rock from the late eighties made me psyched but upon first listen the hype was all gone. just a really boring album.

Meh

I really liked this! I just wish the recording played in higher quality on YT. Very charismatic, multilayered and sparkly leads and 90s alt-rock groove throughout most tracks. Favourite: Western Sky, Laughingstock, Highway 5. Least Fav: Bad Liquor 7.5/10

A riveting amount of information of Spotify. I remember last time there was such a detailed Wikipedia article for a band 3 people have ever heard of, by my favourite artist Shack with their magnum opus HMS Fable!!! Anyways this was lukewarm as fuck. Guy can't play guitar for shit, the drums are too loud, and oldmates voice is jading at best. The songwriting sucked too.

I'm starting to think that while writing this list the author must have committed some horrible atrocity and the only witnesses he could bribe were a convention next door for incredibly boring and mediocre artists. At least we know their appreciation for the mundane stretches from the United Kingdom to the United States now

i really like the healthy dose of folk in american music club and ive listened to everclear and the golden age before both of which i enjoyed. those albums would probably get a weakish to middling 4 from me, but this is such a weird album to pick out of their discography. it almost feels like it was picked solely because it got banned or something? it didnt review terribly well compared to their other releases and seems pretty unknown. i dunno, it just seemed a bit more milquetoast than other records by the band, and you know i HATE not listening to a band's best release...

Nothing to say in my nothing review about this nothing album by a nothing band with a nothing legacy.

I listened to this album 3 times and can't remember a single second of it. I'm sorry. It's embarrassing, how am I meant to review an album i literally can't remember. Every time it finished Will Smith came into whatever room I was in and memory wiped me. It's fucked. I'm trying so hard. I pulled the album up again and put it on while writing this review. I paused it and forgot what I was listening to. How cunt. Obviously, im taking the piss. Mid and forgettable, and in many cases that's worse than being bad. Or maybe it isnt. Cause atleast with this I don't look at the title and cringe at the thought of having to listen to it again like other albums i rated similarly (ZZ Top im looking at you) 4/10

I was very surprised to see this was released in 1988 and not ten or twenty years later. I couldn't derive from the little info about the band on Wikipedia about who exactly they influenced (I didn't try very hard) but you can definitely hear a lot of 90s acts can trace their DNA to this album whether they (or I, clearly) know it or not. It is much more fun to listen and read about the kind of music that may have influenced bands and genres you like in this project, a lot better than the alternative which is like finding out a portion of your ancestry were Nazis or rockabilly fans. On the third and fourth tracks I realised it, this band is basically The Smiths if you replace beans and Thatcher with high fructose corn syrup and Reagan. Jangly English guitar tracks swapped with REAL Americana (the blessed and trusty pedal steel guitar, my beloved). There are a couple of dud/forgettable tracks on here but as a whole album experience this was novel and a pleasant discovery. It's not surprising to me that this group isn't bigger though, it seems they came in at an inopportune time and would have probably killed it if they came in twenty years later. Highlights - Firefly, Pale Skinny Girl, Western Sky, Highway 5

Það var maus að ná að hlusta á þessa plötu. Lögin voru samt fín áhlustunar en ekkert sem stóð upp úr samt sem áður. Dreg hana niður fyrir að gera mér erfitt að hlusta á hana höfundaréttarlega séð

tava esperando um trem bem ruim foi uma viagem ok!!

eu achei que seria bem melhor pela capa. aí começou a primeira musica eu falei pqp, vai ser mto ruim. mas aí no meio eu ate que gostei. indie rock com americana daquele naipe. tem umas barulheira boa, umas mais introspectiva. eh bacana, dá pra ouvir!!

This has been the hardest album to track down on the list so far—and I’ve gone through over 500 of them. So naturally, my expectations were high. I’d never heard of American Music Club or their album California before, even though I’m a huge indie fan. It’s always exciting to discover hidden corners of American indie, so I was curious to see what this one had to offer. In some respects, California feels ahead of its time for a late ’80s release. There are some genuinely strong moments—tracks like "Somewhere" and "Lonely" stand out with their haunting melodies and thoughtful lyrics. That said, the album as a whole leans heavily into a slow, somber tone. At times, it feels like it drags—not in a meditative or emotionally deep way, but in a way that risks losing the listener’s attention. Perhaps the pace is intentional, aiming to evoke a certain mood, but for me, it didn't always land. There’s a definite hint of Morrissey in the vocals—an interesting touch—but it’s not enough to carry the album through its more lackluster stretches. Favorite Tracks: Somewhere, Lonely, I also enjoyed Bad liquor. It was heavier and different than anything else on the album Least Favorite: Pale Skinny Girls is one of the duller moments, though it’s not alone. A few tracks share that same uninspired feel. Album Artwork: I really like the cover. It has a quiet, evocative quality that suits the album’s tone. In summary, while California has some standout moments and a certain nostalgic charm, I think there are stronger indie records waiting in the ’90s.

Enjoyed it more than I expected!

I’d love this on vinyl

Listened to Everclear by AMC instead, mid soft rock

# Album Name: California # Artist: AMC # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Very mid americana # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Nah

Kuullostaa siltä miltä maistuu ja näyttää.. näin on...

The one song that was semi interesting got cut off on the YouTube video of the album. Its not on spotify and frankly, no big loss.

It's interesting that this was released earlier than folks like Sufjan Stevens or other 90s alt or 2000s indie rock. Interesting doesn't equal good, though. 2/5

Not very memorable to me

underrated; enjoyable to listen to as whole album but no songs stood out much

Decent, not sure I'll go back to it again with it not being on Spotify though

Not very good

Rock, Pop, 1988 -> 2

Had to find this on YouTube* since Spotify didn't have it, but it was delightful. Folksy overall, with a huge variety of different sounds--reminds me of Beck. Tracks seem to explore the whole mood wheel. Definitely a artistic triumph! *: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmXZEPwsTE

Decent album, does become background music 3/5

I've never heard of this band, and didn't know any of the songs. It was okay, nothing that I would really look to listen to again. I've been basing a lot of my ratings on if any songs really stood out, one way or the other...the only song that really made me go, wtf am I listening to right now is "Bad Liquor".

Unable to review - not available on Tidal.

I can definitely see the vision here, there are lots of great ideas by clearly very talented people. I just think it's quite held back by very dated production and overall as a product feels very of its time.

So this is their ‘definitive statement’? Yikes. I kept thinking something interesting was about to happen and then it didn’t. Entirely unmemorable and lacking any discernible personality

Unfortunately, this sounds a bit like the music that was performed by the fictional character Rufus and his band Lincoln Hawk from the hit show Gossip Girl. 90’s pastiche that falls under the Smiths umbrellas of influence, with an R.E.M sound pallet. “Lonely” in particular was a lowlight for me. The singing was the opposite of charismatic, and so was the content of its lyrics. Hard for me to say this, but at least my other infamous 1 star band PiL takes some sort of convicted angle with their sound and style. Having to go to YouTube for this one when I was at the gym early in the morning was the dagger

with more listenings it can be more than 3

informative of the music to come after it in the 90's but didn't do much for me

There are some nice songs here but the cardinal sin for me in music and art, whether you're minimalist or maximalist, is not to be boring. Some nice moments here, where they succeed in really, really chilling out but ultimately they'd succeed more artistically if they were more memorable. At times they veer so closely to sounding like others like Elliott Smith or even Morrissey, but if that's all I can recall about the composition, then that's a serious issue.

Not a bad alternative band. Not a bad sound.

Regular band, not much to listen to

p599. 1988. 2 stars. Inoffensive REM clone without the tunes. Point deducted for having to go YouTube to find it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmXZEPwsTE

eh

Das Album California der US-amerikanischen Band American Music Club wurde 1988 veröffentlicht. Die Aufnahmen fanden im Studio D in Sausalito, Kalifornien statt. Die Gruppe um Sänger und Songschreiber Mark Eitzel bewegt sich stilistisch zwischen Alternative Rock, Folk und Slowcore. Charakteristisch sind die ruhigen, introspektiven Arrangements und die oft melancholische Stimmung. Zu den bekannteren Titeln zählen „Firefly“, „Western Sky“ und „Blue and Grey Shirt“, die exemplarisch für den zurückgenommenen, erzählenden Stil der Band stehen. Die Veröffentlichung markiert einen frühen Höhepunkt im Schaffen der Band, bei dem sich ihre besondere Handschrift bereits deutlich zeigt. Wer sich für nachdenkliche, gitarrenbetonte Musik abseits des Mainstreams interessiert, findet hier einen guten Einstiegspunkt.

if it's not even on YouTube music, let alone spotify, it can't be that good

Thought I put on a Barenaked Ladies album by mistake. These fellas are getting a lot of hate in some other folks’ reviews. They’re alright tho.

decent album, nothing that really stands out to me. Only one song I actively didn't like. Most of them are easy listening background type songs to me.

Laughingstock // Bad Liquor // Highway 5 //

A nice sort of folky rock collection that seems like it might have set the stage for later, more successful groups like Counting Crows. An easy listen.

The first half of this album wasn't great in my opinion. The band sounded like an early barenaked ladies. Then bad liquor was a big surprise, and the second half actually was a big step up. Avg: 2.7/5 -> 3/5

My opinions were all over the place while listening to this, but ultimately most of the quieter, moodier tracks were my favorites and the rest really wasn’t doing anything for me. Though shout out to bad liquor which felt so insanely out of place but it kind of rules

eh

I actually really liked the sound of this. 4/5

Almost gave it a one but this was just booooorrrriiiinnnggg

Was pretty hard to find due to the fact that it's not on any streaming services but it was a pretty solid country album and I am appreciative of Mark Eitzel's meaningful lyricism throughout.

TWO STARS! 💋🍻

This is a perfectly fine album / band. I enjoyed it enough to listen to a few other sings from them. But I have no idea what makes this special enough to be on this list.

Album not available on Spotify

Really enjoyed this, I definitely enjoyed American Music Club's sound! The album was kinda fire tbh and western sky has a really nice feel to it

This did nothing for me

It’s perfectly pleasant, but nothing more. Reminded me of Counting Crowd in parts, and Sheryl Crow. Quite a crow heavy review, really.

Sludgy, boring rock with terrible vocals, feels like something you put up with in the background while boarding a plane. 1988 album that feels like it anticipated some elements of 90's grunge and indie music.. but the parts I can't stand.

2.16

Maybe this is a lesson in why not to read the reviews before you listen. I saw somebody describe this as like going to hear your coworker's band on a Wednesday night and thinking they aren't as bad as you feared. For me, it was like that, except occasionally dipping down into just as bad as I feared.

1/2

It’s fine but I don’t know why it’s on this list. If you want a good example of a band in the 80s being ahead of their time you can listen to Violent Femmes and have a way better time

.

Is this a parody album?

Some lovely moments and I enjoyed the instrumentals a lot in places, but this brand of almost-country, Nick Cave meets the Smiths melancholia didn’t really do it for me.

Not terrible but very dull

Pleasant.

This is the American equivalent of the forgettable British rock that pollutes this list

when this is bad its really really bad. unfortunate

ok

Not available on streaming

Soft, guitar focused, typically wailed or quiet male vocals, “rubber band” in nature - soft to loud to soft. Firefly was my fave. Gave a beach relax almost high school nostalgia guitar feel.

Sounds super ahead of its time. Excited to go back to this one. 3.5/5

No!!! More metal, to my ears predictable but not completely meritless. Don’t think I’ll listen again though.

Blant, boring, unremarkable.

Gosh, it was just a lot of meh.

"Jenny". Melancholy ambience

We moesten YouTube maar weer eens trotseren. Om één of andere reden kon ik de titel van de songs niet zien tijdens het beluisteren van de plaat op mijn mobiel, waardoor het vrij anoniem voorbij waaide. En slowcore heeft sowieso al dat effect waarin je een beetje in een hypnose belandt. Het was niet slecht, best aangenaam soms, maar het mag geen naam hebben. 6/10

I did not feel much here. Not sure why it’s on the list.

Nah- this could be removed.

Sicket sömnpiller.

Not on Spotify

A real deep-cut here. I've never heard of this album or this band. Honestly not that bad. It's a shame that this album isn't more accessible because I think it could really find an audience. Favorite track: Highway 5

dollar store jimmy buffet

This came completely out of nowhere. Never even came close to hear about American Music Club.

Easily track downable on Youtube and a nice slice of eighties college rock, from the stable of Green on Red, Long Ryders, Bodeans, Smithereens, Replacements and so on. If you like them you'll like this.

Didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Wish it was on streaming so more people could find it.

I did not find this on Spotify

Klinkt als iets wat mijn pa zou luisteren. Sad, 90s rock. Dus dit vond ik ook wel vrij goed. Kende het niet, maar klinkt wel oké. 3.2

boh su spotify non c’è

Solid indie album with great lyrics for some songs.

Some incredibly strong songs here but the record is too inconsistant. Way too many songs are forgettable. But god damn "Jenny" and "Highway 5" are bangers

Bit of a chore to find this album. Finally got it on You Tube. I did not like this. I tried to give this a chance but to no avail. It was a struggle to finish. There had to be a better album to put on this list. No thanks. 1/5

I did like it. But nothing memorable. Would listen again very easy smooth soft rock music in places

It was aight? Easy listen

Sounds like the counting crows guy joined XTC. A couple decent songs. -1 for not being on Spotify (everyone knows the rules)

This is a joke album right?

Favorite Track: Jenny

gibt es nicht auf Spotify oder apple Musik, 1 Stern, auf YouTube gefunden

Another one of those obscure bands I never heard of. This is a mix of country and rock songs, which apparently were a hit in the UK. However they were not a big hit with me. Totally forgettable.

They had indie rock in the 80s? Just kidding, kinda. This is so indie it wasn't on spotify! Unfortunately, I like it. A little bit of a folksy/country voice, but definite indie guitar and lyrics. 'Western Song' apparently is Nick Drake inspired, and I hear it, as well as Pearl Jam inspiring, which I guess I hear also. Pleasant. A nice pleasant streak this week.

Pretty torn on this album. There were two songs I liked a lot, Now You’re Defeated and Jenny, but the rest of the album didn’t do much for me.

Good album. Never heard of them before. Not on radio Playlist.

Odd album. Is it country? Indie pop? Easy listening? Whatever the album is, it is not my cup of tea.

No way anyone hears this and thinks “wow, this guy can sing”. Worse than karaoke night at the local tavern.

Not quite

California is yet another one of those albums that is fine albeit unremarkable. Its just another alt rock album from the 80s that wasn't really doing anything to help it stand out from it's many peers. Many of the songs also just tend to copy paste the same exact formula to the point where they just tend to get a bit forgettable. Bad Liquor is one of the more fun tracks seeing as it's one of the few (if not the only one) that deviates from the formula and it manages to still be a pretty good track. That is however only one track and it is pretty short so i would not say it is enough to elevate this album any higher than 3 stars. Best Song: Bad Liquor Worst Song: Laughingstock

A tiny bit country, a little bit goth? Hard to describe the genre of this. It wasn't all that exciting or memorable though. It wasn't on Apple Music, so I had to listen on YouTube.

I liked it. It was different to what I expected. Also, I’m always glad to find things that are not on Spotify.

Not bad but terribly average. Absolutely nothing memorable at all here

Sounds like something my dad would have had on a cassette tape when I was a kid (positive). I actually do like this. It's quiet but the instrumental aspect is solid. "Jenny" and "Last Harbor" were really lovely. At the end of the day it didn't blow me away, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Exceptionally pedestrian. Was this whole list a scheme to get people to listen to this one album?

Don’t feel like going to YouTube to listen to this and the global reviews aren’t doing it any favors. This album gets a 1

Meh

It may have been the point to have a generic sounding band name, but it certainly does not help this band stand apart. Bad Liquor is a bad song. Not sure why it was included on the album, as 11 tracks would have been fine and there's no reason an outtake (any outtake) could not have been included if 11 tracks were deemed insufficient. I am not 100% sure how this album ended up in the book. Not because I did not enjoy it, rather was this a hugely influential album? I had not ever heard of this band and this feels like some of the college radio station music I listened to when I was in college. The songwriting is fairly strong and the lead singer's voice could be an acquired taste. I enjoyed: Firefly Somewhere Lonely Blue and Grey Shirt (best song on the album) Now You're Defeated Jenny Western Sky Last Harbor This is not on Spotify, so it makes it more difficult (for me, at least) to listen to regularly but I enjoyed the album.

De zang verraadt iets over het decennium waarin het gemaakt is, maar verder is het redelijk tijdloze countryrock, niet onvergelijkbaar met bijvoorbeeld Chris Isaak. Niet per sé opvallend, maar eigenlijk best goed. Ik hou wel van platen die een sfeertje neer kunnen zetten.

Hé, hier ben ik vergeten om iets over te schrijven zie ik. Maar eeehhhmmmm....wat was het ook alweer? Kom op, nog niet eens maandje terug, moet ik toch terug kunnen halen...Maar...nope...Als dat geen vergeetbare 3 is... Toch maar even nog eens opzetten. Bij het eerste nummer slaat de stem over. O ja, het komt terug... Niet per se de hoogste kwaliteit in de lijst... Als ze de rustige vibe willen doorbreken, wordt dat met bad liquor op een belachelijke manier gedaan. Waarom staat dit er nou in? De opzet is vergeetbaar de uitvoering is matig, de climaxen soms zelfs slecht.

Toch zelden dat er iets voorbij komt, waar je zelfs in de verste verste ooit van hebt gehoord. Voordeel is, dat je dan verrast kan worden. Het is een 80s album, dus ik verwacht veel bombarie. Maar de eerste klanken geven iets heel anders weg. Ik hoor gelijk een slide guitar en een iets knauwende stem. Ik ga er even voor zitten. Ik zit te bedenken op wat voor andere artiesten ik dit vind lijken. Ik kom tot een mengeling van Counting Crows, Claw Boys Claw, Tears for Fears, Spandau Ballet. Als ik had moeten gokken, dan had ik eerder de 90s gegokt dan 80s (ondanks de Tears for Fears en Spandau Ballet associatie). Ondanks dat ik het best mee vind vallen, had het me ook niks verbaasd als dit een Nederlands bandje was geweest. Je hoort gewoon dat het net niet de kwaliteit heeft. Het stoort me allemaal niet, maar het beklijft ook niet. Te weinig catchy hooks of interessante riffs. Ben bang dat dit toch meer in de hoek vergeetbare 3 gaat zitten.

Mellow alt-america

Some country-tinged folksy rock that is almost certainly inspired by Neil Young, but in a style reminiscent of early REM. The album, conceptually, is a miserable breakup album that can effectively be divided into two halves: a sober half and a drunken half. I'll let you guess which track divides the two. I'm of two minds. I like the arc that this album follows and much of the songwriting on display strikes a nice balance between vulnerable introspection and warm melancholy (occasionally channeling the Smiths!) But the production takes away some of the rawness that should really embody this kind of album. Every song is a little too clean, lacking a keen sense of grit. I also think American Music Club doesn't quite find its own identity in this album, as most of the songs here only seem to harken to other more well-established bands from around the same time. There are good ingredients to California, but the finished product falls a bit short.

Boring, but not awful.

2- Stars (4/15)

drei bis vier. schön, aber naja

Male grungy Americana - pretty conventional

From 1988 but it could sound like an indie band from 2009. Weird haha

I weirdly liked this one Some songs were a bit bland, or had weird lyrics. But the good songs were really good! Balanced out to an overall enjoyable album 4 ⭐️

Only album I haven't listened to as it wasn't available on Spotify

Cozy album with some real nice guitarwork.

не

As much as I wanted to like this album, there just wasn't enough there to hold my attention.

I guess I must be in the backwaters of this project, as this is the second day in a row getting a strangely obscure album (yesterday's was "Bitte Orca" by Dirty Projectors). Thankfully, this album isn't as grating as "Bitte Orca", but it's also not all that distinctive either. And it's in the running for one of the shortest Wikipedia entries, which is usually not a great sign. Most of the songs didn't really stand out to me, but I thought "Laughingstock" was a good tune. According to the "1001 Albums" entry, they've been labeled "the most criminally underrated band in the world." I'm not sure any crimes were committed in downplaying their potential, to be honest, but I'm also not sure why they didn't get more exposure beyond a cult following in Europe, as there's nothing too harsh or offensive about this album, and it definitely has that 80s/90s indie sound down pat. Interesting that they compared themselves to REM "constantly"; I suspect that bred a lot of resentment when REM took off and they didn't. And interesting too that frontman Mark Eitzel started off doing punk, as this album seems very *un*-punk (except "Bad liquor" I suppose).

solid rock though I don't feel compelled to listen again.

Gets a little bit better as it goes, but that was too little, too late for me.

What am I supposed to do with this?

That one was especially boring and generic and I cannot see people caring about this album in 2025.

5.8/10

This might be the biggest load of nothing yet. Of course this album isn’t on Spotify, it’s true home is a 99p bucket in Home Bargains, next to The Best of Tina Turner and Drive Time Vol 4. It’s probably not a one star album but there is no fucking way it should be on this list.

Interesting variety

Pretty good, but in a way that I don't want to return to this. I enjoyed it for what it was though.

its aight but quite uneventful

Not bad. It’s mostly just okay with one stand out track. Odd that this seems to be their only non-streaming album

Reminded me of Gram Parsons, only with more pop and punk influances. The upbeat songs work better

The first listen didn't stick with me, but I enjoyed the second go-around quite a bit. Feels nice and vibey, like driving through a desert at sunset. 3 stars.

A mixed bag. The songwriting is really good, the performance lush but precise, nice arrangements and all. But the singer really destroys it. I mean he sounds like me, just meh. As if they werde demoing for a singer audition . There is enough rootsy stuff in it to make it a somewhat digestible experience, but somewhat is not what I am expecting from this list.

San Francisco-based, poetic Alt-rock with echoes of jangle-pop, a Paisley Underground approach to Americana. R.E.M. was the most commercially successful of the folk rock weirdoes, but there were other equally talented and morose new romantics Winter Hours and American Music Club. Mark Eitzel had been a name in the back issues of my Rolling Stone magazines and the used copy of Spin's Alternative Record Guide that expanded by tastes in many unanticipated directions. But, until this list recommended California by American Music Club, which is only available digitally via their bandcamp these days, that I connected the name Eitzel to an unfamiliar album and band. There is a slight twang on the passionate "Lonely" but it still sounds like the Byrds and honestly Winter Hours is the best comparison for the persistent swirling melancholy. Other reviewers have evoked the ghost of Nick Drake and music periodicals which branded Eitzel the best songwriter of 1991 see visions of U2, neither sounds apt to me. "Bad Liquor" is a manic and grinding hardcore take on honky-tonk music, ominous bass, harmonica solo, gritty and shouting vocals I am reminded of Lone Justice with their underground Americana grit-punk spirit. Mark Eitzel is a profound storyteller, wandering the San Francisco streets from a dissatisfying sexual encounter to a brief connection with a serial killer who wonders what song he is whistling. "Jenny" is a bleak acoustic guitar song, it reminds me of adolescent Kristin Hersh (The Letter and Delicate Cutters). Western Sky is uplifting by comparison and reminds me of the Magnetic Fields, except the beauty of the object has also been tarnished. This is a somber and sad affair, not likely to inspire a lot of repeat listening. "Highway 5" more road weary blues with feedback "a beautiful California landscape dead ends in the sky." The closing "Last Harbor" is all Red House Painters, but Eitzel doesn't sound like his Slowcore or Sadcore peers, there is a sweet timidity and self-loathing to his voice and lyrics.

Never heard of them. Not something I would pick, but I enjoyed the album. Somehow it just resonates with me. I read the reviews. A lot of people think it's boring. I don't agree, but I understand. Favorite song: somewhere.

On par with the Beatles

not horrible but pretty unremarkable and just sort of irks me for some reason i can't quite put my finger on

The American Music Club is yet another band that I’d never come across before. The band name is a little uninspired, which I did find to be a fair reflection of the music itself. It wasn’t horribly bad by any means, but it just felt somewhat boring. It was ok to have on while studying, but I know that if I was focusing in on the music as the main point of concentration, then this would have been a difficult album to get through. It’s like a soft country folk rock, but without anything interesting really happening.

It was good but not one I will go back to I think

***An ok album

Pretty good in places

I'm about to be a little harsh on this album, honestly I think it's perfectly fine, there were multiple songs on here that I have positive opinions on, the opener Firefly, Somewhere, Bad Liquor, Now You're Defeated and Highway 5 thanks to the guitar work. But that simply meant I thought the songs were 6's rather than the rest which were 4's. Competently made, perfectly listenable, inoffensive,but not interesting. 2 stars.

Wasn't on Spotify, so had to hunt it down on YouTube (not even YouTube Music), and kinda wish I hadn't, its pretty mid despite its inherent jangly-ness.

I barely noticed this album as it passed by (I temporarily came out of my stupor as the song "Bad Liquor" came on, which was fairly decent).

It was nice

Ok record. The tracks kind of melt together, hard to say anything special about the songs. Not my vibr

There's room on my mood palate for low-key, kind of melancholy stuff like this. At first I was thinking it was kind of bland but I get the vibe that this would grow on me with subsequent listens.

From the jump, I was not inclined to like this album. I mean, I see that someone on Wikipedia has labelled this album as "slowcore," and already I'm expecting the worst. With a name like "slowcore," you may as well just come out and tell me "this album is boring." The only genre label I've seen lately that outmatches it for "Oh, this is gonna be no fun at all, isn't it?" is gosh-darn "**sad**core." But, hey, hey now, that's just a genre name. I had no idea what it could even sound like. So, take a breath, procrastinate a day on playing it, and actually give it a chance. You never know; I might actually really dig it. And for the first couple of minutes, yeah, I was. It's not anything I'd go nutso over, and I'm not 100% with this guy's voice — there's **way too many times** it nearly verged into "I'M SO IMPORTANT SUCH A GOOD WRITER; PLEASE TAKE ME SERIOUSLY" but just narrowly stayed in "Like... Sure, fine? Whatever?"... But the backing instrumentals and melodies were all nice. Some pretty country-ish stuff; I'm down for this. I could maybe take a whole album of stuff like this, even if there's some quirks I hafta deal with... But then "Bad Liquor", the album's "big rocker," hit. Until this point, I was tryna fight off the easy thought of "Maybe this album sucks, actually?" Like, I'm giving it an honest chance; let's leave my knee jerk "I don't like the name 'slowcore'" reaction to the side for a moment and see if it's actually justified or not, eh? But with "Bad Liquor", the question mark in that thought turned into a flat period, and nothing else that happened the rest of the album could change my mind. Seriously, past "Bad Liquor", the album got interminable. The kind of experience where I'm desperate to see how much time is left, 'coz the album's such a slog that I feel like I'm trapped. Besides "Bad Liquor", it just never gets terribly interesting. Even the few songs I saw people in my group highlight as good ones didn't do much for me. It's just the same "who cares"/"whatever" over and over and over again. After I was done listening to this album, I hadda put on blink-182's CALIFORNIA so I could remember what an album I **like** with that state's name sounded like. (What kind of a name for a group is "American Music Club," by the way? Is this some LOVE LIVE! 'Japanese Idol Club' thing? Honestly, it gathers nearly enough irrational bother in me as The United States Of America did, but not enough to go on about it beyond this aside.) So... Aw, heck, I'm at a 2. There's not enough in here that I dislike that I'd give it a 1, but goodness me, I'm never gonna listen to it again. California, as a state, has and deserves better than this — and in fact, maybe "slowcore" does, too.

Don't have that much to say, honestly. It's just fine, so 3.5 bumped up to 4 it is.

I’m at a 3. I dunno, I just sort of bounced off of this album, not for a lack of trying. I think the instrumentation does a fabulous job of finding & maintaining a mood on this album on every track, and I consider that the highlight. If nothing else, this is a really nice 41 minutes of easy listening, and it’s probably really easy to get entranced by the soundscapes to the point of enjoyment. They’re genuinely a few years ahead of schedule, and give a good preview of some of the more contemporary / indie stylings of the 90s to come. However, for my ears, which are just too attentive to the vocals & lyrics, I simply bounced off of this because they do kill the mood / vibe on some of the tracks for me. It’s not because they’re outright bad – they never really dip lower than “painfully unimpressive”. The reason I bounced off of this album is because the lead singer’s vocals, combined with the usually mediocre lyrics, make the entire thing feel like it’s a cover band of another artist trying to do original material, and while I absolutely know it’s not the case, there’s just something about it, when it all combines, that creates that weird anachronistic effect. This is an album from 1988, that sounds like the mid-90s, but evokes other bands in such a way that it feels like the tribute bands & rip-off acts of those more popular ones, and it’s a stigma that my brain could never really shake off. It certainly doesn’t help that the guy’s vocals reminded me the most of Morrissey, which is “hit and miss” at best, and “pathetically whiny” at worst. Past that, I wrote down “a guy at the bar who’s convinced he can do a great Michael Stipe impression,” and I fear I’m starting to get a little mean. I suppose I’ll end my mean streak by saying that “The laughing stock proves that the world is made of rock” sounds like a poorly translated quote from a foreign philosopher that this guy desperately thought sounded cool. It feels like a Morrissey line. My sincerest apologies to this guy – I simply think Morrissey is a tool. I’ll give this album credit where credit is due though – it does break the stigma of “cover band doing original material” a few times, namely on “Blue & Grey Shirt” and “Western Sky”, both of which I really liked, the latter especially so. This truly isn’t a bad album, it’s just painfully unimpressive to my ears. It’s not that compelling lyrically or vocally, but for 1988, I’m impressed by how much these guys had their finger on the pulse in terms of the instrumentation. I don’t know how many other “slowcore” albums are on the list, but I feel like it’s a genre I could enjoy. I just don’t think this one, with American Morrissey and a lot of strange lyrics in tow, is the one that’s gonna break through for me. It’s a 3 for me, but I can understand how it could be a 4 or even a 5 for someone else.

This was really nice, felt like it could be a more current alt-country album than one from 1988. I like the singer's voice and think this one could grow on me with more listens.

I was hoping for more of a country sound, opening with pedal steel guitar on Firefly. Instead, this is more of an indie rock album with some sprinkling of country throughout. I don't really find much of this that unique, particularly the opener. To be fair though, it probably was for the 80s as I never would've guessed it was that old. Still, much of the album actually reminds me a fair amount of Wilco, who I'd prefer to listen to. More lowkey moments like Laughingstock and Pale and Skinny Girl are quite strong and manage to have some personality though, I wish there was more of that style. The vocals are okay, but they occasionally have a strained sound that I find slightly annoying when he's really belting out the lyrics (Now You're Defeated immediately comes to mind). Again, more toned-down moments like Laughingstock are where Mark Eitzel's vocals are at their best Not a bad album, just not that noteworthy Highlights: Laughingstock, Pale and Skinny Girl

Reveal reaction: Never heard of this band. But it's never a good thing when the album of the day isn't on Apple Music of Spotify. I found it on Bandcamp. So, I should append "unfortunately" to the last sentence. The album starts with some very severe slide guitar. I had to stop it and check wikipedia to make sure I wasn't going to accidentally listen to some country music because fuck that. Either way, the first song is country adjacent trash. The second song is better. Very indie alt-rock, sort of like The Lemonheads. What follows is a very mixed bag. There are some songs that are sparse, elegant and beautiful, like Jenny, but more often, the songs are boring, cookie-cutter facsimiles of better artists' music. I found myself swinging wildly between a 2 star and 3 star review here because there are several songs that are actually pretty damned good - the aforementioned Jenny being the pick of the bunch. but there are songs that are infuriatingly boring slogs. 2.5 would be the right play here, if we had half stars.

Never heard this of this before and could only get it through YouTube. It was kind of Americana soft rock but with a bit more to it than most, reminded me of counting crows and the verve at various times. Liked it well enough but an overdone sound Checking the wiki before reviewing says it was released in 1988, so it must have been a frontrunner for this sound that was prevalent in the 90s and just be why it made the list. In those terms it sounds as good as anything that came after so fair play. Last song stands out but that might be because I heard it most recently, also liked bad liquor as it was a little bit noisy and unhinged. Not sure if I'd come back but it was well worth one listen, 3.5.

Gosh this is like Counting Crows at times. Although not as good. Firefly is nice. Actually, all the songs are nice. Mostly inoffensive, sounds like Christian Rock. "Bad Liquor" sounds a bit like a sermon. I'm conflicted, like Jesus was with the lads and the fish and bread - do I give this album 2 stars, or 3 stars? I guess 3, because of the Not on Spotify, so won't come back to this album.

I thought this sounded firmly from the mid nineties, not from the late 80s, so I guess they were ahead of their time. I quite enjoyed it, kinda soft rock, almost reminded me a little of Springsteen, or counting crows, or maybe even tuung in parts?? I liked "Jenny", "western sky", "last harbour" I think this is at least a 3.5.

Sounds like The Cure music, with a young Bruce Springsteen. Pass

This was actually better than expected. I assumed that because it wasn’t on any min streaming services it was going to be kind of bad, but it was intriguing and different. I wasn’t bored, which is a common trend, and thought it was quite interesting but not too quirky or hard to listen to.