The Modern Lovers

While it's an interesting and influential album, I'm giving it three stars because Jonathan Richman's voice and talk-singing style gets on my nerves after a while. Add a half-star because I didn't know that The Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison was also in The Modern Lovers.

I'm not going to dislike an album that has the lines "Some people try to pick up girls and get called assholes/This never happened to Pablo Picasso"

If the songs were all less than 3 minutes I'd give it a five. There's a lot to like about this album, but the songs get repetitive and repetitive.

What if Bob Dylan couldn't write songs and secretly wished to be the rolling Stones that's what you get out of the modern lovers

Solid.

Decently enjoyable

Quite Good

good stuff, like the velvets, not as good

Blind album and artist. Another not so spectacular album that did not pique my interest, but glad I try new things. Cant say I didnt!

I'm a bit of a sucker for Jonathan's 'aw shucks just turned up here at the studio from the middle of nowhere with a guitar after two days on a Greyhound bus vibe' tied to a sunnier version of the VU groove. This is pretty good summary of his style, not for everyone.

I'm in love with the first track. It feels like an indie movie. The rest of the songs are pretty to really good. I can't explain it, but all of these belong in a movie soundtrack. This album really surprised me. I've never heard of the Modern Lovers before. I don't know how. They're really good and they sound like they would've been revolutionary for their time. 4/5

boaring

Mediocre garage band to my ears

Whimsical and laid back at the same time, but when I listened to the lyrics it was kinda silly. Still okay in the background.

Not bad

Bit repetitive

Ok

Why not

Loved this before-its-time alternative sound that made me think of so much 80s college music. As a fan of "Pablo Picasso" from the Repo Man Soundtrack, I'd never known it was a cover. And a "fifties apartment building" being sung about in the seventies made me laugh.

As it started, I thought that I would be able to enjoy the album. Then it just started to get really really boring to me. It kind of made me think of a band from my college days...but then when I took a quick listen to some tracks from that college band, it actually sounded nothing like them. I am not sure why they came to mind.

I knew Roadrunner and Pablo Picasso but the rest was new. I enjoyed listening late in the evening with the lights down low. They fit my mood.

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!

Okay.

Good music that I can’t recall after I listen to it… still gets a 4

Mark VB type beat

Enjoyable background alt

I don’t really know where to begin…? This was a unique experience for sure. The songs are sometimes about something and sometimes about…nothing (Picasso wasn’t ever called an asshole, apparently). The singer sounded like a precursor to mumble rap. The instrumentals were generally great. I really liked a few of the songs but on the whole this was just ok. Probably pretty great if you’re into mid-70’s proto-punk or new wave. There’s definitely some Talking Heads in here (though they wouldn’t debut fully until the following year), and even some Doors (mainly the keyboard playing/riffs). The lead singer was probably also the inspiration for the Hold Steady’s lead singer, if I had to guess. Also the song about how a woman was probably “magical as a little girl” or whatever was weird and I didn’t want it. I get that they’re the “Modern” “Lovers” but this and a couple other songs just didn’t age well. Oh and the misspelling of “girlfriend” in the lyrics was probably supposed to be funny but it…wasn’t…? Or it was the first time? Overall this was good. Another three star album to throw onto the pile. Standout tracks: Roadrunner, Astral Plane, She Cackled, Someone I Care About

Some good stuff in here, even some flashes of brilliance, but like most Jonathan Richman the songs are all too long and repetitive. Excellent production but I was antsy by the end. Low 3.

A very good but not great album. Opens with an all time classic but nothing else is quite that strong. The album sets the tone for future pop/punk indie rock.

"Girlfriend" was great. It honestly felt like a mix of Television and Bruce Springsteen which was alot of fun. Otherwise the album was fine.

Sikkert originalt nok, men ikke for mig

Very fun listen

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.

1. roadrunner - 1.5 2. aztral - 1 3. old uuorld - 1 4. picazzo - 1 5. cracked - 1.5 6. hozpital - 2 7. care about - 1.5 8. girlfriend - 1 9. modern - 1.5 10. old - 1 11. ztraight - 0 12. government - 0 13. zleep - 1 14. dance - 1 15. care about - 1.5

Great

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

Ok, but not something I would listen to again 2/5

Never heard of them. Good stuff. New wave punk maybe? Not sure but it's not rock and not punk. It's both with a hint of new wave to mellow it out.

This album sucks a fat one. Full offense intended.

It was alright. I liked the start, but it got kind of slow and lackluster in the middle.

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 knew Roadrunner from the Sex Pistols cover, but had no idea where it had originally come from. I figured I would detest this album, but it was actually really good. It's like a missing Velvet Underground album, but with some other influences leaking in, like a bit of the Doors here and there. I get that this is a bit of a mash up, rather than a proper album, but it's still entertaining and worthy of four stars. It's not perfect, and there's a few dull moments towards the end, but it's generally on point.

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.

I keep hearing how great these guys are. I’ll take your word for it. I suppose it should be on this list as he’s deeply regarded. But there’s no craft here. There’s no emotion. There’s no art. Maybe you had to be there. Interested to see Jerry harrison was a part of it.

I cant tell if its parody, Tasting this "blind". After a few tracks I find it reassuringly consistent so i trust it, and it starts to do it work on me. A gumshoe mod party vibe, playing either the musical ancester or descendants of about 2 decades of good post Blues Brit Pop. fairly tight and clean, and I like it, ironically I think. He has a charming sly smirking swagger, the main singer. It needs another listen .... moody, and its has an certain 'digitus impudicus' insolence and attitude a certain irrisistable self awareness I cant fathom yet Great one liners. Cant beleive I dont know them from some soundtracks>>>> So for now: "un certain regard". Sensing a slow burn ...

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.

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! There 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 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'm really starting to run out of things to say about all these forgettable albums. I listened to it, didn't enjoy it that much, (although it didn't repulse me) and immediately forgot about it because there was nothing remotely interesting about it.

Snore

The Modern Lovers is like 2 albums in one. At times it’s very Stooges, indie punk and I like that and at times they sound like a bad Doors cover band. When they are good it sounds quite modern. 5.9/10

Been a while since I've heard this one. Opens strong with Roadrunner, which straddles some boundary between pop, punk, and psychadelia. The last part I attribute to the strong presence of organ, which gives great service. All around jam. I love the whole concept of Pablo Picasso, built on this mythology that Picasso was irresistible and therefore was never called an asshole for trying to pick up women. Love the dryness of this song and the jammy nature of the instrumentals. She Cracked is a jam as well. I found myself drumming along for the entire song. Rest of the album jams as well, but I had it in the background. All around solid album and a rare one where I didn't even notice when it bled into the extended tracks. If I could give half stars, this is a perfect 4.5. Not enough gusto to give it a perfect 5, so I'll settle for a 4.

slightly whiny, monotone voice. Repetitive rhythms. Some nice shreddy moments. Not bad for punk.

The singer had a very strange cadence which was kind of throwing me off all album. But this wasn't terrible for a punk album. Low 3

Just from the first couple minutes I already like this punk rock more than most. I think it's the keys (shoutout Jerry Harrison from Talking Heads). After a whole listen this is def some better punk than I expected. Really loved the instrumentals, and sometimes his voice fit perfectly with the music, other times not so much -as is punk.

Насколько легко меня подкупить на синты doors? Да Но в остальном вокал мне не сильно зашел да и музыка не развивает идею дверей, а больше похоже на копирование Алкоальбом: паленный виски

Какие-то велветы, только всратые... или не всратые. Хз, чёт я не выкупил до конца видимо, как-то нудненько. Почитал про роль перехода от глэма к панку через минимализм... звучит, как оправдание какое-то. I'm Straight, чё сказать. Ну кст есть ещё классная почти блюзовая My Girlfriend. Но так что-то плохо отложилось.

For the first time in 119 albums in, I can't figure out why this is here. I wouldn't consider any of it offensive, but it felt like an album full of what I would consider the filler tracks on better albums. Aggressively fine, which would be a 3 if it wasn't 17 tracks and over an hour long.

Not great but not bad, my favorites were “Roadrunner” and “Modern World.”

It started off very promising. Ultimately it’s a little too much of the same thing when you listen to the whole album. At its best it does remind me of the velvet underground a bit.

57/100 Some good, some bad, some made me think of OkkRiv

Somehow anticipating New Wave before punk even happened.

Fantastic! “Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole … not like you.”

Maybe a 3

A weird little album. The singer isn't very good but I still find him kinda charming, and the songs range from banal and empty to refreshingly direct. I do think there's a good pop rock band here but they only sometimes manage to emerge. Best song: Astral Plane

If The Doors were proto-punk vampires. 3.5

Sounded just like Velvet Underground. Not a bad thing but just not as original as it's made out to be..

Generally a bit forgettable although also feels forward thinking. Probs would sit with some early 90s stuff to be honest. 2.7

2.5

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

Started off pretty decently, but then things became really bad whenever every single song sounded pretty much the exact same way - music in the background and just shouting (or talking) and overall wasn't a great experience. Normally I would rate this 1 star but because I had really low expectations in the beginning, the first 20 seconds didn't seem too disappointing.

I was surprised by the recognition of the opening track as I went in blind. A good pop song and rest of the album seemed fun but dated. A 3.5 if there was half marks.

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.

It’s like The Doors and The Velvet Underground made a baby. Most songs sound earlier than 1976. I like it. 3.2

It has a Velvet Underground feel, which makes sense. Clearly ahead of it's time, if recorded in early 70s, and quite influential. Still isn't good though. I like how pitch and tone are merely suggestions for the singer. I guess he didn't hit his stride until "There's Something About Mary". 2.7

I'm absolutely baffled by the deluge of upvoted 1 star reviews here. This is pretty nice you know. It's got a good energy to much of it and has some nice bopping tunes. Some of the songs are a bit droney and repetitive and those I like less.

Good album. Meanders a lot but quite interesting. Unlikely to listen again

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

Hadn’t heard of these guys before. Sounds like they have influenced a lot of stuff later on. Not really something I’ll revisit but decent enough.

Some of this is good. But this lead singer does NOT have the pipes to carry a ballad. “Hospital” and “Girl Friend” are both huge momentum killers, and the album would have been so much better if they had both been left off it entirely. And I’m pretty sure it’s well-documented that Pablo Picasso was, in fact, an asshole.

In another example on this list how most popular reviews are based on the name recognition of the band, The Modern Lovers a Punk, Post Punk, New Wave blow to the eardrums you experience the full onslaught of punk through all kinds of range. Yet not being as recognizable as the Sex Pistols, Clash, Television, Devo, PiL and more you get relegated to negative reviews from folks that don't recognize the impact this album has played on modern music. Songs like RoadRunner are essential to the genre(s) and require this album to net a solid 4. 4/5

I am so sick of these drunk, congested, nonsense albums. Why are there so many of these. Anyone who gives this more than two stars is lying and my least favorite kind of person.

Slightly refreshing actually. Instead of macho postering which was very common in the 70s, we get some vulnerability and angst. Yet it still maintains some abrasiveness. It isn't perfect by any stretch but it's decent.

Spiritual successors to The Doors and Velvet Underground, Spiritual predecessors of Punk and New York Art Rock. I'm sure many people love this band, and fair play to them. To me it sounds like a decent college band. In parts it almost sounds like a parody of the style it helped spawn. They are in the old world. Goodbye old world, here comes the new world. We have iphones now and Netflix, not sure we need Blockbuster video. It was great at the time, but now life is easier, perhaps blander, but being lazy is a valid way of coping.

I'm SO tired of 70s albums, so I had very, very low expectations of this album. I had a bad attitude during the first song, so it was headed for a very low rating. But once I settled in, the album is actually quite good! It sounds less like 70s rock to me, and more like early 2000s the the vein of The Strokes, The Killers, etc. It's not earth shattering, but it's a unique sound for the 70s. Comfortable 3 stars

Hospital // Girlfriend //

Just sounds like droll, proto-punk to me. Kept waiting for things to pick up or get interesting and they never did. I think the vocal delivery played a large part in making me feel that way.

3.77 per track.

I really liked this. Yes, it's clear that he loved The Doors and The Velvet Underground, but most of this was recorded in 1971 - who better for him to have loved? I'm on record here as saying that the NYC drawl style of singing can drive me a bit mad, but it worked with the overall sound. I liked the sense of urgency and honesty and thought it was cool.

Liked the Lou Reed vibe. Might listen again.

All new to me but enjoyed it

I thought Neil Young couldn't sing

6.5/10

Lively. Nothing special

I find it very comedic that seminal albums in the proto-punk, punk, and post-punk genres all came out within the same year, as it really shows how loose those titles are. This album, in particular, doesn't feel especially punk-ish, save for its indifferent vocal delivery and some more strange guitar solos. If anything, its just a 70s take on rock 'n' roll with more angst-ridden lyrics, but it can still feel pretty stereotypical. The coolest thing to come out of this band, in my opinion, is the members that went on to be in bigger projects like Talking Heads and the Cars, as you can hear it a little here, and its neat enough as is, but when you start to forget the influences and changes, you start to suspect that perhaps the world of punk would have continued without this album, as its more of a Velvet Underground re-hash at its most out there, and while it certainly had its sway on the music world, as I mentioned it was already competing with punk and post-punk acts at the time of its release. Its more of a cool story tied into an alright album, with a good track or two to keep it in the limelight. Certainly not bad, but outclassed by everyone around them, and its hard to see it another way, personally.

Antecedente del punk, el álbum homónimo de The Modern Lovers concentra la angustia juvenil en su rock & roll sin artificios mezclado con art-rock inspirado en la Velvet Underground. No en vano su origen son las maquetas que el grupo grabó con John Cale tres años antes. Destaca el primer tema del disco, el clásico "Roadrunner". Y me gustan "Old World", "Modern World", "She Cracked" y la emotiva "Someone I Care About". También el sarcasmo de "Pablo Picasso", donde la letra dice algo así como "A Pablo Picasso nunca le llamaron gilipollas... no como a ti".

the yap album 2.3/5

This album feels pretty damn ahead of it's time, by that I mean the singer is mostly bad. But I gotta say it's sometimes a vibe. A lot of these don't land but then they bring out a cool Doors-style solo and win me back. It's a love hate relationship. The lyrics can be funny and real too. I love the idea of it but it's not the most enjoyable music at times lmao.

Doors ish

decent record!

Not bad

Torture. Can anyone please make this guy stop groaning at me

Some of the songs are a little annoying but overall not a bad listen

Easier to listen to than the French album from yesterday.

Punk British Rock, similar to Talking Heads. Not for me.

É muito disco, né não? Mais um que já não deixou nada de recordação.

Great album! Reminds me a lot of Television. Hard to imagine this album came out in the 70s. Reminds me of early punk/new wave with almost a touch of indie rock

It just seems really bland/flat to me. I don't think I will ever go back to these guys. Lyrics/singing seems low effort and not in a good way at all.

It was fine, if it came on the radio I would keep it on and sing along. But nothing revolutionary or different. Maybe they one of the first but felt very much like other music of that time.

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).

I hear touches of modern indie rock mixed in with The Velvet Underground. it sounds fresh. Enjoyable!

I mean, I might call Pablo Picasso an asshole if he was being an asshole. But I get the point, lol. This album is fun, I enjoyed the lyrics. Nothing was particularly moving or catchy, but it was likable nonetheless.

BOOMER ROCK WTF if next album is this trash im leaving this website

Flashes of greatness surrounded by British mediocrity. Kinda went back and forth between somewhat interesting and annoying.

Womp womp

was disappointed "She Cracked" wasn't about Fortnite

I’ve always loved this album and I love Jonathan Richman. He’s forever young and always making me think, reflect and laugh. Such a fun album with many highlights. For me it’s all about GIRLFREN “girlfriend” and “roadrunner” which has been on many of my jogging playlists.

Mediocre music with mediocre vocals. I don't really think I needed to listen to this before I died.

Fun music, like this type of early 'new wave' music, got energy and nice rhythms. Favorite: "Hospital". Still, not one I would play again and again

It’s a good punk album and makes for an interesting listen. Kinda mellow but still punk. It is a long album, maybe overly long. I can see why it belongs on this list.

Really interisting, somewhere between Stones, Clash and Oasis

Nice demo tape? This seems to include a skilled singer and instrumentalists, but the production quality and songwriting are not of interest to me. I'll pass. Better luck down the street, I hope you do well. As they say, “You've got potential, kid.”

I'd give the vocals a D, but that's pretty much par for the course for classic punk. Otherwise this was fine.

Overall forgettable and boring to me.

Voice varied from great to kinda annoying, I think it suits alot of the songs but not all.

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

Decent, has me pining for roxy music

Still sounds good almost 50 years later

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

This album sounds like if Bob Dylan tried to make early indie/punk rock. The upbeat tracks sound okay musically but the vocals are strung out and meandering. For “Roadrunner,” why count to 6? A lot of these song lyrics did not age well, especially “I’m Straight.” For this eponymous album, the rule applies.

An odd one. I was thinking it’s a bit like The Velvet Underground or The Doors, with a bit of Ziggy and Iggy in the mix, but, all this stuff was happening in the late 60s early 70s, why would this be “good” for 1976? Then read up to find out it was recorded in 72 and released later. Fair enough. But does that make it very out of date? Yeah, maybe? Do I like the songs (should probably be a more important question)? Kind of, although I did find the spelling of Girlfriend and the repetition of Picasso/Asshole pretty annoying. So vaguely annoying music, 4 years past its peers, have to go low I think. 2 stars.

The Strokes definitely listened to these guys.

This is such a gem. There would be no Violent Femmes without this record. There is no 80s college radio without this. There’s no Wesley Willis. Such a fun version of punk. Such unvarnished lyrics and singing style. Very raw, but also personal and tender. Underneath it all, it’s rather romantic.

On first listen I just wrote it off as some weird punk record, but there is a lot here that I ignored until really paying attention. This is a very personal and very individual album. It's got an indie feel that I haven't seen in a lot of other punk from this era, and it makes it stand out more than I thought. I'm not the worlds biggest fan of it, but it certainly has some respect from me. Favorites were Roadrunner, Hospital, and Modern World

Weird and punky, I liked this. Very much a predecessor to indie music that would come later. Favorite songs were Roadrunner, Pablo Picasso, and Modern World

Best Songs: (No bangers, but enjoyable overall) Listen Again: Yes

Niet de spannendste Britse post-punk Pablo Picasso is cringe Z'n stem is ambetant Chords zijn ook wat ambetant? Zeker in She Cracked. Progression is onaangenaam 1 ster

All you 1 and 5 star-ers are overstating your case. Solid 3 star album. Obviously a big influence on what was to come.

1976 Protopunk Standouts: Roadrunner, She Cracked, Hospital, Astral Plane, Pablo Picasso, Someone I Care About, Modern World, I'm Straight Fantastic: 4/5

This album reminds me of a lot of the things coming out in the mid 60s British invasion period. It's not bad, certainly better than a lot of the offerings that have been given. Not sure I would seek them out, but I'd listen to them if they came on randomly.

I really enjoyed this.

That's not my taste in musik. But ok

It played nicely

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

Boh sì si può ascoltare, ma non mi pare nulla di particolare.

I'm a Jonathan Richman fan, but I mostly listen to the music he made after Bermuda made him realize how stiff he was. I haven't listened to this album in a few years. I'm excited to return to the Astral Plane today. Such a fun listen - and basically everyone in the group went on to make even more awesome tunes.

I like Jonathan Richman a lot. I like the loose nature of the music. I like how he’s silly but in a fun way, not a novelty. You can definitely hear the Velvet Underground influence on this album. But I love Velvet Underground so I am ok with it. This album also has a proto-punk sound to it. I again struggle with the five star rating system. This album is a pure joy but I don’t think it’s one of the best albums of all time. To me a 5 star album should be one of the best albums of all time. In a ten star rating system this would be a 9.5. Easy. This is a 4.9 in my book.

Of it’s time but I liked it, mostly.

Sounds fresh even after so many years. Simple songs performed with sincerity, and such a contrast to much the bloated country rock of the same era.

The singer's voice is so annoying.

This album reminded me so much if the doors, but generally in a lesser way. Still enjoyed the album, and I really like rhe song Pablo Picasso, but overall, a very average album to me.

How can you argue against a song that has Massachusetts, 128, the Pike, and Stop n Shop? The only thing they don't have is Dunks. They remind me of the garage bands. Uncomplicated. Unrelenting. Unforgettable. But yeah, really good.

Pretty damn fun. Pablo Picasso and Hospital stand tallest for me, but the it's a really enjoyable rock vibe that doesn't stray into very many of the cliches of the time. The music is still enjoyable today and has a strong garage vibe. The guitar, and bass on Pablo Picasso are exceptional. The song just drives! I enjoyed my time with Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers.

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

Pablo Picasso is a fun song. The rest all sound alike in a very annoying monotone voice with little care about the music.

I gave it several listens but just didn’t connect with this one.

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 can't say I've heard an album like it before. Really accurately depicts what the punk genre tries to embody in my opinion. It isn't the most pleasant listen but fascinating, unique, and artistic.

just felt like they were jamming and didn't care

Sounds like a 60's throwback. Good album....pretty chill.

Great instrumentals that are fun to listen to, but the vocals on this are bad. The singer is trying too hard to sound like a 70's Britipop singer

Whole load of meh from me. Sounds like the singer is a bit drunk the entire time.

Liked this

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.

Not fun at all.

Loved the music (5/5), hated the lyrics and the singing (1/5). On a song or two it works, but not a whole album. Averages to a 3/5.

Mid 70s rock

Nope. Didn't like the voice and the lyrics, the music was nothing remarkable.

Great early proto-punk sound. Clearly a huge influence on many who came after. "Hospital" is a standout to me, different sound with the same raw energy.

Quite forgettable, it was nice enough but I couldn't point out any stand out tracks

The Modern Lovers Lyrics by Lou Reed Vocals by Julian Casablancas Guitars by The Velvet Underground Vibes by Blondie Pleased to hear the original ‘pablo Picasso’ (as covered by Bowie)

Un disco estupendo que voy a volver a escuchar.

Pretty good background music.

Roadrunner and Girlfriend are all-time great songs. The rest of the album is similarly great but not as revelatory.

Jonathan Richman's ability to distill complex emotions into simple, relatable narratives, combined with the band's raw sound, cements this album as an essential and influential work in the evolution of alternative and punk rock, but sonically, it’s just not for me. it’s a wonderfully curated album and a lot of thought was put into it, but it’s just not for me. it’s getting a 3/10 from me. sorry :’(

From the opening this grabbed me and had me enthralled throughout. A great gem of an album. Made the year I was born. It’s always weird to think a great album has been around for the entirety of my existence and I’d never heard it before. Until now.

Some fun party music here.

Not familiar with any of these songs… not my style either.

Had never of this band or any of its music. I found it curious how or why they made Rolling Stones top 500 list. There’s nothing remarkable here and the monotone voice of the lead vocalist kills what little enjoyment there is as ever song sounds pretty much like the last one. The 3 alternative versions of 3 of the album tracks are by far the best music on the disc, more up tempo and the vocals are forced to keep pace a little more. At least I know why I’ve never heard of them.

4.75

Compliqué, ce disque. Les mélodies sont souvent quelconques, les musiciens pas forcément en place, et le chanteur est approximatif. Peuvent être sauvés “She Cracked” et éventuellement lur tube “Roadrunner”. Chaque morceau contient son moment décevant, un solo d’harmonium inutile, un pont à la guitare naze, comme celui de “Old World”, incroyablement foireux. Et que dire de “Girlfriend” où le chanteur sonnant comme un vieil alcoolo essaie d’épeler “G-I-R-L-F-R-I-E-N-D” mais foire deux lettres sur la fin. Cela rend l’ensemble parfois assez rigolo, presque attachant, ou peut être pathétique. Sans doute que ce disque est vu comme un précurseur du punk, mais difficile d’en faire un incontournable.

I was a little distracted while I was listening but I remember liking most songs but disliking a few. It probably warrants another listen but from what I recall, overall I did like it enough to listen again.

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

This is not good. I don't understand American music sometimes.

blegh

not my cup of tea

Didn't love this.

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.

(Approx. 62 mins.) Early punk rock. Singular sound, lots of spoken lyrics. (5/10)

Roadrunner's great, and I actually like Jonathan Richman in small doses. This was a tough listen.

Pleasantly surprised...definitely enjoyed this!

It will not enter my favorite list, but it is good. Liked to hear it.

Nothing really stood out here. A couple tracks with some vibes but nothing I’d really want to come back to. Lead singer is mopey sounding

Um, but why was this album on the list?

Nah

Familiar with many of these songs, but hadn’t heard album in its entirety. A classic.

It was a different kind of album, interesting, 3 stars

Soso proto-punk/psych-rock with one of the whiniest singers I've ever heard. Roadrunner is good, the rest, totally forgettable, and Girlfriend is one of the worst songs I've ever heard.

Strong 3

this wasn’t bad. it kind of reminded me of a mashup of iggy pop and the pretenders.

That was certainly something I'd not heard before.

This has moments that I really like, and then the guy just starts talking about random weird things. The bad definitely outweighs the good.

I dont have too much to say about this one. The music wasn't bad but it wasn't particularly memorable. Road Runner was the highlight of the album. The singer has an interesting voice but I would rather listen to the Cars if I wanted something that had this feel. Not an album I plan to return to but decent enough music.

Didn't like a single song on this album. Frontman can't sing either.

A few good songs but overall did not enjoy much

Pretty generic, but the lyrics were distractingly bad so I'm doxking a point. Usually I don't care about lyrics but holy shit I don't give a shit how stoned hippie Johnny is or that you want a girlfriend instead of cocaine.

Fíla þetta, næstum því hrátt, samt eitthvað smúþ.

The doors vibes

Okay

I see The Modern Lovers were a band of all-stars who went on to form the likes of Talking Heads and The Cars, and this collection of numbers was very well critically acclaimed at the time, but it sounded bland and forgettable to me. Not sure why such hype.

Very mid. I’m not really a fan of the vocalist’s style.

Their style gets kind of annoying after a while but still fine.

I feel like w a lot of these I don’t actively dislike them but I just would never choose to listen to them… this to me was like someone got really into karaoke and popped off a little bit. I think there’s a bit of a disconnect between the music n the singing and the dudes voice is not super compelling 5/10

Didn’t quite get through the whole thing, but pretty solid. Not amazing 6.5/10

4/10 - In a word boring, in a few words not very exciting. The songs all kinda blended together and I do not want to hear any more about hippie johnny.

4.5/10 pretty boring, music and vocals didn’t mesh well and the dudes voice wasn’t great

There’s definitely some good and some bad on this album. I like the overall sound and most of the songs have a pretty cool vibe, but the song hospital illustrates everything I dislike about the album. Dude’s voice can be annoying as fuck at times, and he tries to do some weird, taylor swift like spoken word rap shit that just doesn’t work at all. Like a really shitty attempt to mimic Lou reed. However, the album is still kinda weirdly charming. I really don’t know how I feel about this. 5/10

Knew I recognized that voice! Once I remembered where, the album got higher rated.

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

Really liked the vibes of this album, and was pleasantly surprised by their sound. I would listen to it again nice good time.

2.5

Not bad, but not my thing. Except for the Pablo Picasso song

Good but not entirely my type of coffee

Brit stuff

One of the defining albums from when the US new wave scene started evolving. Down the same alley as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Blondie, Talking Heads, Television. Love it!

Roadrunner - 3 Astral Plane - 2 Old World - 2.5 Pablo Picasso - 2 She Cracked - 2 Hospital - 2 Someone I Care About - 2 Girlfriend - that's a O.N.E. baby Modern World - 3

1. Roadrunner - 2 2. Astral plane - 1 3. 1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 1 10. 1 11. 1 12. 1 13. 1 14. 3 Terrible 1.21

05/06/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 B Tier—————————3 She Cracked Roadrunner Hospital Someone I care About C Tier—————————2 Old World Pablo Picasso Astral Plane D Tier—————————1 Girlfriend

The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers Monday 5/6/2024, 1:27, office S Tier————————— Roadrunner A Tier————————— Astral Plane Pablo Picasso Modern World B Tier————————— She Cracked Someone I Care About C Tier————————— Old World Hospital Girlfriend

What a piece of shite.

John!

This is probably a great album to listen to while stoned. I enjoyed it more than I expected.

I liked this a lot. Never heard of them before but massive velvet underground vibes which is always a good thing.

Decent music, but the lyrics were literally cringe. They were painful to listen to.

The music reminds me a little of The Doors, but without the same sense of the music taking over.

Mwa

7/10

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.

80s Pop Punk vibes

This grew on me as I went through the album. It's rough and unrefined at times, but there is a sincerity that shines through.

Not for me

Sounds really timeless. Probably the earliest example I've found of contemporary alternative rock. Then came Joy Division, then The Smiths, then the rest is history! 1st listen 3.5/5

Good feels

I don't understand this at all. Trash. How is this popular/hailed as great? Boring, dull, uninspired, stupid. Fav tracks: N/A

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.

Not a big fan of this one

meh

Basically Roadrunner is the only good track, but he's having fun, and that makes it far more redeemable in my eyes then a lot of the self indulgent stuff you'll hear on this list.

Odd, interesting. Probably wouldn't listen to again. +1 for G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N 3/5

I’m sure there was something here but I really wasn’t a fan

Stuck on a plane for three hours and I still felt like I was wasting my time listening to this album. He never stops sounding like he’s five drinks down trying to tell a story no one cares about 1/5. i fell asleep through the last couple songs just to get to the end.

I’ll listen to the Doors or Velvet Underground and get the same situation

70s style talk songs, good for road trips imo. First song on the album is most popular. Album has a lot of songs that sound the same. Mostly more of the same kind of 70s riffing, and talk singing...

I'm trying to figure out why this album is on this list. I listened through twice and never got it.

I have a soft spot for rambling music like this 3

Fun, driving riffs that feel pitched right between rock n roll and punk. Definitely draws influence from The Velvet Underground. There’s a lot of irony and sarcasm baked into the music and vocals but I actually think that’s just a cover for lead singer Jonathan Richman to hide his earnestness. Song after song, he seems to crave love and sincerity. “Old World,” for example, is an open-hearted song about nostalgia for the ‘50s. “Hospital” was a nice change from the faster paced tracks. I liked the vulnerability of the lyrics. It’s a strange, sad song about a bad relationship. It stopped me in my tracks and made an impression. I enjoyed this. A more varied mix of sounds or maybe some surprising lyrical turns would have pushed this into excellent territory. But it’s a strong album.

Sometimes I feel like these apathetic "wah wah" kind of vocal sounds get annoying fast and I don't end up having the patience to listen for very long. I'm really either hot or cold on it, because sometimes I really do actually like them. There's this "round-ness" to them that specifically annoys me though, like in "Astral Plane"'s intro, the words "room" and in"sane", where the singer comes up from under the pitch, then goes over it, and then comes back down in what I imagine is a circular motion. The nice thing though is that I really think it fits in this band, and come to think of it I don't often hear that sort of sound in this type of classic rock too often. So that's nice. Now that I realize it, "Astral Plane" in general is a great song. I love the Doors-like organ parts, and the loose drumming that is nicely in the pocket but also just bopping around. Ok I know why I am start to like this so much. "Hospital" sounds like a song from the band Okkervil River, which is one of my favorite bands of all time. It is uncanny how similar the whole sound of the track sounds like an Okkervil song (even though Okkervil came out like 20 years after this band). I love it! I kind of wish the whole album sounded like this whole. "I go to bakeries all day long there's a lack of sweetness in my life." I love how silly this lyric is.

I made it through one and a half songs. Inane speak-singy lyrics, blah music.

Really tried to give this a chance and yet only made it through 2 songs. I can normally stomach most albums but the lyrics were garbage and honestly the overall album felt like some teenager wrote it.

If you were doing drugs in the 70s maybe you could vibe with this…

Stupid uninspired album with horrible vocals and dumb lyrics. I couldn’t even finish it. Terrible, they were a paraplegic that “crawled” so the sex pistols could run. And the sex pistols run was more of a crawl compared to most “indie” rock bands in this era. Worthless garbage

The lyrics are just weird enough to be interesting but not off-putting. That being said, I wasn’t sold on the vocals. They weren’t irritating, they just bordered on sounding bored/drunk. The instrumentals were fun, but didn’t really stick out to me as anything super unique or hypnotizing. I wouldn’t mind if the songs were on the radio but I’m also probably not going to go out searching for them.

Un gran album de rock alternativo que se inspira bastante en los sonidos propuestos por John Cale en The Velvet Underground, razón de la por qué los produce. Con letras irónicas, inteligentes y un sonido punk cercano al New Wave, el debit de The Modern Lovers sigue sintiéndose fresco y energético. Realmente una entrada refrescante en esta lista.

I’ve completely forgotten this Album After listening

Featuring future members of Talking Heads and the Cars (Jerry Harrison and David Robinson respectively), the only album by the Modern Lovers is a jittery, jaded rumination on 70s youth culture. A signpost of what was to come in the decade ahead.

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.

Pretty entertaining to listen to, but a little more comical than I think they were going for. Felt like they’re reading from a teenager diary and just happen to be playing a little bit of guitar, keyboard, and drums for fun. Some songs had good instrumentals and bad lyrics, some had funny lyrics and bland backing. Think I would like it most of it less and less the more I’d listen. 5/10

Grand, some of the songs were good but wasn't blown away by any of them really sometimes found the album a little boring.

Very nice American rock. Cool vocals - one of those slow almost speaking instead of singing once. Favorite song of the album is Girlfriend, which has super nice strings and piano.

Not my type of music

This is a pretty dang fun album IMHO. Not amazing or anything, but fun. Call it a 3.5.

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.

his lyrics are so funny, the singer has a british quality to him even if he isn't, I found the themes to just be brought together so well by the musical attitude and vocal performances

When your frontman shows up in a raging drunk to the session waving papers around covered in scribbles of “asshole” and “girlfriend” but you really gotta use the studio time

Not my usual type of music but quite enjoyed this

Nice vocals, nice lyrics, awesome balls

The link between VU and punk rock, like Hippy Johnny

I quite liked this

Pretty banal - not much to commend it.

Really great listen. 4/5

downloaded hospital but definition of white people music

I hope I never have to hear this album again.

Pretty decent. I can see how this influenced a lot of what came after in late 70s. Rating: 4.3

Not great, it's got some hints of the good 70s stuff but it strays too close to early new romantics stuff at times and I can't abide it.

Quite enjoyed this - as people have said, the quality is pretty patchy, but Roadrunner and Modern World are real highlights. It's super simple, stripped back rock music focused around the vocals (which is odd, given his voice isn't that strong). That said, his lyrics are fun, and the attitude comes across in spades. Probably not an album I'll revisit (although I'll save a couple of the best songs) 3/5.

You can hear the DNA of this record echoing through decades of alternative music—from the minimalist drive of early punk to the quirky art-rock of the Talking Heads and indie rock at large.

Not much that got me involved in this. I'm not sure why. Maybe his voice? Maybe the music just feels calm somehow?

I didn't have high hopes from reading some of the top reviews, but I really dug this!

this album kinda um sucked. all the reviews saying it sounds like knock off the doors are right at that point just listen to the doors they’re way better than this anyways

Solid proto-punk album. Has a lot of good songs on the album but in all honesty there was nothing that would make me think this album is life-changing in any way. Still really good but sort of par for the course in the genre, it is just a really good example of that garage rock/proto-punk sound. If you like that sound you will like this. 9/10

Great

They remind me of Cake.

Sounded very familiar, lead singer looked familiar too. Not something I would buy, probably.

That were alright, weren’t it? A low 3

Yet another album I haven't listen to since the early 1990's. I had forgotten how good and influential it is, with its proto punk feel. Also you can hear the influence of the Velvets instrumentally and the Stooges vocally on the record. Standout tracks; Pablo Picasso, Hospital, Someone I Cared About. However I was never a fan of Roadrunner. Gets low 4

It feels like an album that can't decide if it's punk or rock, and ends up sounding like "we have Jim Morrison at home" meme. Very dull.

I hadn't heard this before, but it's clearly an incredibly influential record. A lot of it feels 30 years ahead of its time.

Not interesting

It reminded me of the episode of Rick and Morty episode where they have to come up with a hit song to save the planet

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>

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.