The Modern Lovers

This is probably the worst album I've ever listened to in recent memory. The vocals are like a drunk / strung out Jim Morrison, just slurring his words and not giving a shit. It was like a train wreck in slow motion. I have no original thoughts about this album, but neither did the artist when they were making it. I'm angry I spent almost an hour listening to this trash. A dumpster filled with the days expired produce on fire could make better music than this nightmare. Just unoriginal, uninspired, gutter trash. I could make a poop that would sound better than this. Fuck. Fuck these guys. Fuck whoever put this shit on this list.

I love Jonathan Richman's heart on his sleeve honesty and directness. He is like an anti-rockstar and yet things like Roadrunner epitomize rock and roll to me. He's so comfortable with who he is and just putting it out there. Really brave, and to me, relatable. Some of these tracks were recorded in 1971! They're like The Stooges' sensitive, goofier little brothers. Ahead of their time. 5 stars for Roadrunner alone but 5 stars for all of it.

I loved Jonathan Richman's interviews in Todd Haynes' Velvet Underground documentary (what a sweet man) and I've only read raves about Joshua Clover's new book, 'Roadrunner'--all about the opener on this album--so I was thrilled when this came up. Roadrunner is great, driving its way around the rock 'n' roll ring road, and picking up a hitchiking Mathangi Arulpragasam on the way. Understandably, it'll take more than one listen for me to feel like it's worth writing a book about. Richman's drawl isn't exactly fetching, but it's so unaffected that it's impossible not to like. Like hero Lou, his songs appear to hinge on arty-cum-straightforward lyrics but are actually driven by his lead guitar. By the time it finishes, he's introduced you to a peculiar set of charaters inhabiting an unusual sonic world, all without appearing to do much heavy lifting. Special.

I'm pretty sure Pablo Picasso was an asshole. Sounds like someone doing karaoke to The Doors. It's worth noting the talented keyboardist and drummer took their talents to more successful outfits. Jonathan Richman might have knelt at the altar of Lou Reed, but he's the poor person's Lou Reed. "Roadrunner" is a great song, but not the version that opens this album (the Sex Pistols cover is what makes it a classic). Richman should stick to making pizza ovens. The more I think about this album, the more it bothers me because it's not bad, per se. But it's so impossibly overrated, and it just sort of loiters and eventually gnaws.

No. Nope. nononono. At first I thought the music wasn't terrible in a low-rent Elvis Costello kinda way, something I'd be ok with hearing a band playing at a pub but me not paying 100% attention or having paid a large cover for. Unfortunately before the first song ended I really wanted to leave the bar. But I couldn't because I'm not in a bar, I'm at home listening. I'M TRAPPED! SEND HELP. "Hospital" makes me want to check into one. JFC. I think what frustrates me about music like this isn't at all that people like it - hell, listen to 35 minutes of someone banging on a pipe and screaming that's fine who cares. It's that something like this makes a list of 1001 albums you must listen to rather than 1001 albums that, well, only a few people and their roommates might like and you *might* enjoy it but it's really not anything groundbreaking (there I go being subjective again). But no - critics love this shit *and* enjoyed deriding other acts for being too complex. That's the part that frosts me a bit. Oh look! John Cale produced it - what a surprise. Jonathan Richman has the vocal range of a walrus high jumping. Apologies to the walrus who is undoubtedly trying their best. <inner voice: Stop pussy-footing around, this is your review dammit!> Holy hell this is one of the worst things I've ever heard. I hate this. 1/10 1 star.

Really?

I found this hard going. Had to stop 4 times and go back to it in order to finish. Meandering, turgid, I really don't understand the appeal of any of this. Not for me.

It's brilliant, exactly the kind of music I love. A magical blend of rock/punk energies and wry self-deprecating earnestness. I love the absurdist yet heartfelt lyrics and effortless cool layered into every track.

Oh my joy at having this album come up today! One of my faves of that era. They had all the energy and attitude of other proto punk bands, but with real humor and heart. "Road Runner," full volume, heading down the road. It doesn't get any better.

Alternative, what I imagine 1976 emo angst driven teenager would have listened to. Probably one of the first of it's kind, which is cool. But overall forgettable and boring to me.

Loved every second of this. Like something off the Nuggets compilation but somehow even more guileless than those offerings. The product of an utterly eccentric mind, and all the better for it.

Unbelievable 70s album with direct correlation to the 90 indie scene.

Proto-punk that sounds a lot like the Doors meets the Clash, except doesn't overplay the keys. Roadrunner and Pablo Picasso are big highlights; this album is right up my street, and it was no surprise when I learned two of the members were also in the Cars and the Talking Heads.

Not a bad album at all but a little forgettable. Instantly recognised the first song from School of Rock but the rest was fairly similar. Also sounded like they were trying to be the Velvet Underground

Back in 1995, me and some friends would jam in an upstairs room. It was always some variation of a fast 12-bar blues, and one of us would latch on to some phrase and improvise lyrics. The difference is, we new the improv was bad and would throw it away. Not these guys, they actually committed their repetitive improv lyrics to vinyl over some variation of surf rock. Everything is at the same tempo (except for 2 songs that are at the same slow tempo) which makes it a very repetitive listen. "Roadrunner" is fun, but the fun wears off quickly. For good seminal proto-punk I'd rather listen to the MC5.

The issue with 'The Modern Lovers' is that it leaves you wanting to listen to The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed. I read that lead singer Jonathan Richman was obsessed with the Velvet Underground, and you're left in no doubt after listening to this album. But you are left wondering why he decided to opt for an all together different narrative in his lyrics. Supposedly he's just lived an entirely clean and positive existence to date. Hard to criticism him for that. But part of the grand appeal of the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed's solo work is the dark, edgy nature to the lyrics. In the Jonathan Richman world, 'Perfect Day' is just a song about having a really great day. Smoke a doobie, Jonathan! Lyrics aside, you can't not love a bit of New York 70s art rock. It's stuffy, it's pretentious but it's absolutely iconic. You can see the direct lineage from The Modern Lovers to all of the indie music I dabbled with at university in the mid-noughties. From Belle & Sebastian to The Moldy Peaches, it's all there at various points through the course of this album. I just wish the band had strapped on some shiny shiny boots of leather before penning it.

This sounds like an amateur band that I could go see in the local pub. Not bad, but not good either.

Kind of bland, very indebted to The Velvet Underground. It's not bad, I'm just not really sure why it's here. Nothing really stuck out to me too boldly. Favorite track: "Modern World"

Kind of like the Strokes meets the Rolling Stones, but less appealing than it sounds. Lyrics/vocals are weak, and I'm not getting any of the innovation I would expect from an album appearing on this list. Some of the guitar work is decent, but that's about it. 1.5/5. NOTE: just looked up the album and saw that it was unreleased for years before coming out in 1976 and that I listened to an extended version of the album. Not sure what the big deal behind this one is.

I cannot see myself listening to this again nor recommending it to anyone in future.

Amazing. Developing the velvets sound to another level. Peak indie before indie existed.

This guy 'sing's like a true doucher, but the music is pretty good.

Eh bah franchement pas incroyable. Robert déçoit une énième fois avec ses propositions d'albums de plus en plus discutables.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... love this, absolute genius! Even though this isn't really an "album" it's incredibly influential. Straight line from the VU to this to everything great in the indie world.

Why do I love this so much? Partially because it's good, but ya know, these songs are pretty repetitive and they go on for a bit, two things that usually repel me. But I just love this album. I love it!

I love this album. First heard Pablo Picasso on college radio 10ish years ago and immediately thought - "What is this??" Since then, the album has become a favorite - love all of the Boston references, storytelling, etc. Favorite songs are Pablo Picasso, Hospital, I Wanna Sleep in Your Arms, Old World (but really love all of them)

Velvet Underground influence? Check. Motorik style drumming? Check. Punk attitude? Check. This one’s a winner to my ears.

Yesterday, I had to review Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits. Spoiler alert: it is an overly-polished, commercialized, bland-rock unit-shifter. It has almost no rock and roll in it. I feel mildly exploited by the music industry just for listening to it, and I desperately need a palate cleanser... And here it is! The Modern Lovers! Theer are a bunch of Jonathan Richmond songs that I love (the singles from this album, plus Egyptian Reggae, I'm a Little Airplane, a few others), but I have always had a hard time working out the variations on albums and weird release chronologies associated with an artist trying to get stuff released on a series of marginal independent labels. So, I've never sat down and listened to an album all the way through. An ordinary band of a bunch of ordinary guys with ordinary concerns trying to be the Velvet Underground or the Doors, and, in their DIY shortcomings, showing us a whole new thing. God knows why record companies even considered releasing an album by this band. But I love the unpretentious, low budget charm of this record, and the sense that anyone could do it. Bless John Cale for producing them without stuffing it up. It is the epitome of low technique rock and roll. Roadrunner, Pablo Picasso and She Cracked are actually all classic songs, especially Roadrunner, which is one of the great odes to listening to the radio. The song that really grabbed me listening today, however, is Modern World. I love the line "Put down your cigarette and drop out of BU/high school", followed by Jonathan Richmond's laconic "alright", which is one of the most rock and roll utterances ever. Really enjoyed this. Would buy.

I've heard this album a few times in my life and I always forget it's from the '70s. It seems newer than that. I feel like it grows on me the more I hear it. 4/5.

Crap. Didn’t get a chance to listen to this today, but based on that cover art and having the word “modern” in the name I’m gonna say… solid four stars. Don’t let me down album I didn’t listen to!

An amazing cross between Doors-style rock and proto-punk

Proto punk, American that somehow sounds British.

on its own, the modern lovers is an average album. it was listenable and had some enjoyable parts. but when compared to the other proto-punk albums that i've listened to on this list, this album is amazing, easily a 5! i suppose it's the rock elements that allow me to enjoy this record more than other proto-punk albums, but it still doesn't make me excited. i think i might just prefer my punk more produced/commercialized. it was a cool listen though with the punk, rock, and experimental combination.

Wears its VU influence too much on its sleeve for me, while not really measuring up (in the vocal department particularly, and emulating Lou Reed is frankly not that high of a bar to aspire to). While Reed assumed the persona of coldness and flat affect in some of the characters he voiced, in these performances that shoe fits a bit too well. And the lyrics aren't as clever as they think they are, though not without charms.

Hit and miss

Was described as proto punk but reminded me more of the doors. Was alright some interesting wounds and ideas.

A debut album of a band that is founded by a literal teenager, it is not surprise that "The Modern Lovers" is one of those "proto-punk" albums. But is this really a landmark in proto-punk? Let alone in the influences in punk itself? I can definitely hear punk being conceived along the angsty lyrics and sounds, but it sounds more like a '60s rock inspired fiddling than a genre conceiving album. In terms of sound, it's pretty chill but boring sometimes. It was narrated that the band had a conflict about the direction of their sound; towards more mellow stuff or keeping and improving the aggressive sound? I would love it if they went with the former, but unfortunately, punk clearly went with the latter.

Weird, but in a good way. "I'm straight" is basically hey hey you you I don't like your boyfriend.

The Modern Lovers' Roadrunner, which opens their eponymous album, is a straight up rip off of the Velvet Underground, right down to the overdriven organ. But here's the thing--I like what they're ripping off. I enjoy Jonathan Richman's geeky delivery and innocent lyrics. I enjoy their basic sound, which is wholly indebted to VU. And the song Pablo Picasso always makes me laugh. But is it really all that? Does it deserve a place on the 1001 Albums list? Nah. The idea that the Modern Lovers is some kind of groundbreaking release or album is revisionist bullshit. There's nothing here that VU hadn't already done. In fact, The Modern Lovers basically just took one aspect of VU and played variations on it. They do it consistently and well, but even though I enjoy this album, to claim some sort of exalted status for it is just silly.

definitely hear the proto-punk sound. Overall not bad. Don't like the language on Pablo Picasso.

Not bad but not amazing.

Enjoyed this, previously only knew Roadrunner. Tad too long maybe

At the time I'd have given it four stars. Couldn't say why now though!

The art rock schtick wears thin very quickly. || Whining about Picasso being an asshole but still getting girls, and some other lyrics felt very 'nice guy' incel. Even if Picasso was as famous a jerk as he was a painter haha. 2 stars.

The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers (1976 [1972]) This little treat of American protopunk (recorded in 1972 but not released until 1976) is suitably and simultaneously mindless and groovy. The lyrics are unduly simple and repetitive. They lack insight, intricacy, or even humor, even though one gets the sense that they try (e.g., “Pablo Picasso” and “Girlfriend” [lyrically spelled “g-i-r-l-f-r-e-n”]). So, okay, this is not thoughtful poetry. The overly dominating chord progressions and melodies are likewise unduly simple and repetitive. With subpar solo vocals that far too frequently descend into non-tonal verbalizations, the ‘songs’ rarely rise to the level of music. The instrumentals are, however, interesting. There is consistently fine electric bass grounding, deft, precise drumming, and sometimes haunting, droning layers of keyboards and inelaborate electric guitar elements. But there’s no real virtuosity evident here. The grand exception to this wallow in mediocrity is the song “Hospital”, which actually has tempo, time signature, and rhythmic variations, as well as lyrical depth and development. It has a probing theme—a contradiction in love, noting the first-person lover’s distinction between the beloved’s being and the beloved’s actions. (“I can’t stand what you do, but I’m in love with your eyes”). But the song is still flawed by melodic monotony, and it was recorded with an unnecessarily high level of hum and tape hiss. All in all, this album doesn’t quite qualify as cool. 2/5

every song sounds the same

Hearing the first few notes and vocals of Roadrunner I thought is this a wannabe Velvet Underground? After doing some reading, apparently the answer is yes. Never heard of these guys (or really the lead guy). It wasn't awful. Well, the lyrics were kinda terrible - cheap Velvet Underground knockoff. But the arrangements were intriguing. Not my thing and zero production value, but I can appreciate it and what they were going for. Sometimes trying a bit too hard to be the Doors, but like a kid brother who is even more strung out. Tough one to rate. Not worse than a 2, not better than a 3. Which one is it? F the lyrics are awful (Girlfriend? Pablo Picasso? ugh). Sorry that's the clincher.

I got worried when I saw they were influenced by the Velvet Underground AND produced by John Cale. There were a few moments of VU-ishness (e.g., "Cracked") and that's not good because I'm not into VU. But, the rest was ok. I wavered between a 2 and 3. I really liked Roadrunner - good track. I kind of laughed at the British punk accent Jonathan Richman affected particularly in the beginning of Astral Plane. Dude, you're from Boston. I think the main reason I'm going with a 2 is that at the end of the day it was mostly the same song over and over, and I'm never a fan of that.

I’ve never heard of the band before and not really a fan of the album just thought the whole album was meh. Some of the lyrics were strange and not much of a fan of the vocals 2/5

I don't know. It's quirky. Maybe impressive / different at the time. Do I want to hear it again? Probably not.

I find them kind of annoying overall, to be honest. I realized it's part of the idea probably, but I really only enjoyed a couple tracks.

Not a good singing performance, almost slurrish singing, uninspiring and monotonous music

Uninspired, insipid, and derivative. I know it’s easy to be a critic, but I really think all these words apply. Nothing about this album feels new for its time; every aspect of it is a worse version of a previous band’s work. Pretty boring. I might have given it a 2, but the lead vocals were the most lackluster I’ve ever heard, so I feel justified giving it a 1.

4/24/2022 Today's Album: "Modern Lovers" by The Modern Lovers - In my personal opinion, this album is a pile of absolute dog shit. Excluding the highlights, which I will discuss a bit later, this album has absolutely unbearable vocals. The dude sounds like he's shitfaced and just doesn't give a fuck at all. I know that with punk music and especially with what this album is clearly ripping off (The Velvet Underground), there is a lot of "bad" vocals and it's sort of the point of the genre, but jesus christ if it isn't just absolutely grating. I can manage it on the songs where he's singing with any sort of rhythmic intent, but often times it just doesn't fit the music whatsoever. I think the production on this album is actually quite okay and the instruments sound pretty good on some tracks, but most of the performances throughout here are just so mediocre and generic. It often feels like there is little to no difference in the instrumental from track to track and that is truly what makes the highlights stand out. There are only 3 highlights on this record for me. The track Pablo Picasso still suffers from the dogshit lead vocalist's singing, but I think the instrumental is actually really tasteful and the lyrics are kind of funny, even if they come across as completely annoying due to the voice. The track hospital feels way more subtle and mellow than any other track with this really nice soft organ opening and what I can expect is this vocalist trying their absolute hardest to sound somewhat decent (and failing at it). I like the drum groove that comes in at about 45 seconds and I think the time switch ups are pretty cool and well done. Government Center sounds like a punk track you might here closer to the 80s or 90s and is the only time when this album feels forward thinking. The lead vocal is still incredibly grading but the instrumental is fun and bubbly with claps and a goofy synth sound. Overall, though, this record is fucking awful. I think I am still missing some perspective on the punk genre, but at this point I have heard enough good punk songs to know this record never reaches the same highs as any of them. There are some promising moments on this record, but it just is so few and far between that it is seriously one of the worst album experiences I have ever had. Listen to the highlights if you can handle some strange punk and seriously just don't listen to the other tracks. They are generic, blown out, and have terrible vocals over them. Score: 2/10 bad Highlights: Pablo Picasso, Hospital, Government Center

Just go listen to The Stranglers if you want to hear what these guys wanted to sound like.

Repetitive and boring lyrics, instruments are meh

The whole album was extremely fun to listen to. The link between the Velvet Underground and 90s/00s indie.

I have some memorable moments with the Modern Lovers, the highlights of which I will list below. - Jonathan Richman is a friend of a friend (Ted, who Stijn knows), and I have met him a couple times. He is a strange fellow, and generally delightful. He answered my question about some lyrics. - When I moved to New York, Roadrunner came on just as I was crossing the Manhattan bridge into the city came on the radio. It was a great soundtrack for what felt like the beginning of a new chapter. - Later that year when I was sad and living in New York, I listened to Hospital way too much, and it was very good wallowing music. - I love hearing these songs as a connection to the Boston music scene of yesteryear. Apparently the Velvet Underground were huge in the Boston underground scene, and Jonathan Richman was there connection in town. I would kill to have been at those shows. Basically I love this album, and Jonathan Richman's solo work. Hospital is my favorite song on the album. Its a wild blend of mournful and humorous, which is a very rare balance to strike. Album cover: (A)

Imagine if you will: a band featuring members of The Cars, The Talking Heads, and David Johansen’s band, fronted by the troubadour from There’s Something About Mary. And that’s literally The Modern Lovers. These were supposedly all demo recordings, never meant for public consumption. But there are some bonafide bangers on this record. Roadrunner was made famous via a Sex Pistols cover. But this original version is the superior take on the song. And Pablo Picasso was, of course, never called an asshole. A lot of different versions of the album were released over the years. So not every version contains I’m Straight, which is sad for people who don’t own those versions of the album. Is it the first straight-edge declaration in rock music? I believe it is. The whole thing is a fascinating document. It sounds like a band accidentally inventing punk and new wave, while looking through the lenses of the Velvet Underground and The Doors. And the whole thing is gloriously uncool. Just wonderfully out of step with the time when it was written and recorded. Or any time really. I can’t think of any era where a mass public elevates something like The Modern Lovers. It’s too personal, too sensitive, too specific. And of course that’s what makes it great. And it’s exactly why this album should be better known by the public at large.

Despite being very vocal about loving VU madly, this is somehow very much its own thing, although you can here the influence to a degree. The feel and energy of this is great, playful, odd and in its own little world. She Cracked and Pablo Picasso are both as good, if not better, than Roadrunner. This also works as an album, consistent and coherent without getting repetitive. Fabulous.

A proto-punk gem. Great songs, fascinating attitude. No wonder why it stood the test of time. 4.5/5

Oh man Jonathan Richman is a hero of mine and this is an awesome record as well as a trail blazing one in its own right. Not necessarily Jonathan Richman best song but of course he hadn’t yet landed in Bermuda for his epiphany. From the bopping perennial Roadrunner, to Picasso and down to closer the Modern World this is a perfect record in my book.

I love the fact that having the ‘radio on’ is such a rallying call for the Anthemic opener Roadrunner, because this is a set of songs that wouldn’t ever see the airwaves in any way. This isn’t at all a bad thing. This is a pretty Dorky project, taking it’s cues from the Velvets and The Stooges musically but introducing some of the comic book and pop culture references that cropped up in later Punk bands like Ramones, Blondie, and The Cramps. It’s a bit of a marked difference from the Velvet Underground, whose most up to date cultural references were little known Austria-Hungarian Novella’s from the 1870’s. But the Dorkiness actually works pretty well in it’s favour, because the sort of people who love the Velvet Underground are also likely to appreciate the importance of those sorts of ephemeral media like comics and TV as an insight into the zeitgeist of the time. Nobody is ever gonna touch Lou Reed for the mixture of high and low art that he manages to achieve with his lyrical style. And Jonathan Richman is no Lou Reed, which is the only big problem of the album. He knows what he’s going for, but he never quite manages to achieve it. But in failing, he manages to set the template for the lyrical themes that Indie Rock would attempt in the decade following the album’s release. Suburban isolation, relationship failings, teenage angst, cars and TV and Radio and all that jazz. Lou Reed’s lyrics worked because the specificity to his scene and the people in the factory gave everything an Epic quality, and the reason Epics work is because of their universality. Jonathan Richman’s scene is more mundane, and it never manages to attain that epic quality, but suburban specificity is still something, and still something that people can understand. And for it’s ambition alone, this deserves 5 stars

Entdeckung! Woher kennt man Egyptian Reggae?

Mega gut!

I listen to Sound Opinions sometimes on NPR and hear a snippet of Roadrunner in the opening musical montage… good to finally hear the whole song. It’s great! I also had heard Pablo Picasso performed by some other punk group and didn’t realize it was a cover song. I love this song - it was great to hear the original. The lyrics are interesting, the punk underpinnings are supported with some great songwriting and playing… this definitely qualifies for this list! Terrific!

People seem to love or hate this album. I love it! 5 stars. Modern Classic! But what happened to Jonathan Richman? Worshipped by millions of white yuppy boomers, who flock to his minstrel shows to hang on his every word. But it’s crap! Boil it right down, it’s simplistic, childish drivel, put to a guitar and sung in dorky, ah-shucks monotone. Sell out? I’ve been to one show in the early 90’s, and was stunned at how boring it was. The shushing hipsters fawning with adoration, me wondering why I wasted good beer money. Modern Lover is a timeless Thing, a discarded message found washed up on a quiet northeastern beach, covered with barnacles and kelp. Rinse off, listen, love.

Great

At first I didn't know what to think but this album is great.

I was charmed by this. I enjoyed the lead singers voice. I could clearly hear the Velvet Underground Sound, it had groove and nostalgia, im eager to hear their other stuff. I am giving it a 5, because it’s worth more to me than a 4

I love Jonathan Richman. I've listened to this album for years, and it's gone from an "I don't get it 2 stars then, to a solid 9/10 today. I know I won't resist eventually, so I'm giving it 5 stars. I wish I could possess a bit more of his beautiful naive optimism.

Have no doubt - when punk hit Sydney in 1976/77, part of it’s soundtrack, apart from The Pistols singles,The Ramones first album & I’m Stranded by The Saints, was Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers. On tour in Australia in 1983 with rock singer and songwriter Jonathan Richman, producer and former Velvet Underground member John Cale summed up the appeal of Richman’s pioneering early-1970s recordings. “There was this music being presented that was extremely anemic and was highly unlikely to be successful,” he told interviewer Donnie Sutherland about Richman’s early songs. “But because the assumption was made that it was not gonna be successful, it was successful.” I think Cale had it spot-on. Although I’d prefer the term “minimalist” to anaemic. Richman was a notorious VU fan, so it was fitting that Cale ended up producing most of this album. I have an original American pressing on Home Of The Hits label, before it changed it’s name to Beserkley Records. I also have The Original Modern Lovers LP, on Kim Fowley’s Mohawk label, recorded in 1973 but not released till 1981. It includes half of the tracks on The Modern Lovers album and it’s great, but doesn’t have the production values that Cale brings to their music. Anyway, Roadrunner began my long love-affair with Jonathan Richman. I saw the Cale/Richman gig at The Capitol in Sydney in 1983 & saw Richman again (with just his guitar) in a wondrous gig at the Paddington RSL in 1990. I was with a crowd of friends from bands including The Cannanes, Particles, Lighthouse Keepers & somebody made a bunch of cardboard masks of Jonathan’s face for us to wear. These friends were members of minimalist post-punk Sydney bands & it was a testament to their love for & influence from Richman & The Modern Lovers. Apart from Roadrunner, special mention to Astral Plane - the great thing about it is that you don’t know if he’s serious or taking the piss (I suppose you could say that of his whole career) and very special mention to Pablo Picasso. I first heard it on John Cale’s Helen Of Troy LP (1975). What a song. And I recommend Phranc’s lesbian interpretation -Gertrude Stein(1991). I love JR.

Somehow anticipating New Wave before punk even happened.

Loved this. Can’t believe it took me this long to finally listen.

people are such buzzkills! constantly talking about how they copy the doors or are just a "watered down version" of the doors; who cares!! the doors makes great music and i don't see what's so bad about another band that makes music like them. they are so groovy and make me want to dance. 5 stars this is insanely cool.

Great to hear so many sounds that have influenced later stuff.

I love this album in a modern kind of way that makes me still in love with the old world. Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole picking up girls on the astral plane. Government Center is one of my favoritest songs ever!! (they got alot of great desks and chairs) "I go to bakeries all day long. There's a lack of sweetness in my life." This Hippie Larry thinks the singer's straight-edge, teenage angst lyrics are somewhat annoying but Jonathan Richman is unapologetically himself. He stays home and eats health food alone. OK then. The music is odd in some of the best ways. And I like their groove. Many good musics. NOTE: the keyboardist goes on to join Talking Heads & the drummer joins The Cars. Jonathan Richman has a solo career worth checking out. I saw him live at the castle (2008?). Great show! I thought the 3 alternate versions of the songs were better than the originals. Recording sound was better. Lyrics are clearer. And the guitar playing lets loose a bit more. I can hear more of a Velvet Underground influence (which is another band I like).

Listened 3/2/24. I can hear the influence this album had in so many bands that followed.

Nevjerojatno koliko mi incelovski djeluju ovi tekstovi ali i dalje je super ploča

I really enjoyed this.

Some may find Jonathan Richman’s vocal delivery grating but I find it endearing. They’re having fun and it’s infectious, the slow vocal drawl works really well with the quick sharp guitars, drums and keys with a surf punk vibe. It’s a well orchestrated mess altogether and am I crazy to think they had a big influence on the Strokes? From the aesthetic of their band logo to their sound. Reading up on Richman, I found it interesting he accompanied his good friend Gram Parsons on a mini golf outing one day before Parsons death. On first listen this was a 4 but on second I was hooked, 5 stars

Ah hey, Boston. This band is pretty good, surprisingly so.

A collection of songs from a band that broke up years before this album was released. Upon first listen I kind of wanted not to like it, trying to find excuses to not enjoy it, be it the signer or the music or whatever but when it was over, I thought about it and wanted to give it another listen. It was something about the contradiction of this “punk” music and these very intimate lyrics. What kind of punks name themselves “The Modern Lovers” anyway? Second time the more I appreciated the music and the lyrics. There something strange about this album, unlike anything I have ever heard. Some of the songs lyrics kind of transported me back to when I was younger with that kind of naive view of life and love. I’m looking forward to listening again. I love the album cover, such a simple design but perfect. I would hang this album on my wall. And the drummer went on to found “the cars” one of my favorite bands! I had no idea.

I've heard a couple of tracks before but not listened to the album seriously. You can really appreciate how early they were doing this sort of thing. It's really radical. Sounds really fresh even now.

Nothing sounds like the modern lovers. His voice and pacing of singing is singular.

I love this album. I was familiar with a couple of songs from it (Roadrunner and Pablo Picasso), but the whole thing is just what my ears want.

Some people try to pick up girls and get called an asshole. That never happened to Pablo Picasso. 5/5

It's one of those albums that's not like anything else out there. A dude doing whatever the hell he wants, not trying to sound like anyone else. I can tell he was a fan of the Doors, the Stooges, and the Velvet Underground in terms of the abrasive, charismatic, humorous vocals and noisy yet melodic and repetitive beats and riffs (almost punk-like, almost krautrock-like). They were contemporary with the first glam rock artists like the New York Dolls which also had a back-to-roots rock n roll style, but you can't lump these guys in how the glam rock artists did it. It's different, and it's cool. I like all the tracks. They're low key and pleasant, never too loud or annoying. The lyrics are simple and sincere, easy to follow but has a lot of personality and quirkiness, hard to not like. This puts a lot of emotion behind the minimalist, vocal-centered tracks "Hospital" and "Girlfriend." Bonus points for the Boston-centered lyrics having lived here for the past 6 years. Production is raw, and the synths are dated, but contemporary to the Velvet Underground. Not necessarily bad, just makes a slightly harder listen. But I wonder what they could have done with the technology when they released this record in 1976. This is especially tough in the bonus tracks, which seems to get worse in fidelity with each track. By the end, "Dance With Me" sounds like it was recorded with a toaster. Every song is memorable and sticks out, which plenty of moments that'll get stuck in your head. This goes for the bonus tracks true. It does make me kill to see them live. Fortunately, Richman does perform in Boston fairly regularly, so I'll have to look out for the next chance I get. Giving it the full 5 stars for originality and replayability with no forgettable or throwaway tracks. Effort and creativity was put into every one, even the bonus tracks. However, it is pretty abrasive, and so it could be improved with better technology (for the instruments, recording, and mixing), and with an appropriate re-ordering when including the bonus tracks.

Was not a fan or roadrunner. I kept listening, and I love the spoken word style in songs like Pablo Picasso. Definitely a music group who's discography I'm going to explore.

Ahh yeah c’mon. Jonathan richman is the goat. Just another excuse to put this banger on. I also feel it’s worth mentioning that the only reason all the tasteless hack reviews on this website are comparing this to the doors is probably because they heard an organ. Look, you’re entitled to your opinions, but fuck me, the reviews on this website are often hilarious. You can’t appreciate good, coherent listening experiences. Fricken hell it stresses me out just thinking about you wannabe critics sitting in your stinky chairs writing garbage about music you’re clearly too fucking dumb to understand. Take the L and move on. And I’ve looked at your listening history and see you’ve enjoyed really good albums, (like the person who like fragile by Yes I salute you mate) but how on earth you can enjoy something classic like enter the wutang and then overlook something like this ? Insane.

Before streaming, my friends and I would burn CD playlists of random lesser know musicians we liked. That’s where I first heard the Modern Lovers, and I’ve loved this album ever since.

The link between VU and punk rock, like Hippy Johnny

Ha ha Easy Five stars Next! ... Jonathan Richman saw the Velvet Underground and thought what if I did this, but like me? Goofing "Sister Ray" into an exuberant "Roadrunner" was alchemical genius. "Pablo Picasso" punched a loud laugh out of me with "...in his El Dorado" and a revelation that a thesis on narrative identity could be written about this song, and its envy of Picasso's ability to hit on women, the ending guitar solo poised between sleaze and sexual frustration. Si, did JR do anything else worth listening to? Or are you with Hiooy Johnny? <shocked emoji>

loved it

Desde que sono la primera canción ame todo! Ame este disco. 10/10! Guardado completo .

I LOVED this, literally from the first note. A new favorite of mine.

Not available on spotify

perfect

For a band with a ringleader who proclaims himself in love with the old and modern worlds, The Modern Lovers are as apt of a name for such an enterprise. New York in the early to mid 70s were a colorful yet frightening place, teetering on the brink of collapse that inspired flights and burgeoning movements and missives from Presidents to drop dead. It was such a place for Jonathan Richman and his band of Velvet Underground admirers to make home. There are glimpses of who the former band were but also who Talking Heads were going to become, thanks to the presence of Jerry Harrison (album producer and Talking Heads' eventual guitarist and keyboardist) at the controls. For quite some time, I've been leery of Richman and his contributions, mainly due to his whirlpooling presence amongst my playlists. Yet this album places itself at my sweet spot, largely informative and grasping in its admirably awkward overt manner that would inspire legions of other bands in its wake. In regards to this, all we can do is not resist this album's stare.

Velvet underground kind of vibes, dig it