Here's a few random thoughts on why I chose this album: It was such a part of popular culture that I do think everyone should hear it. It's a part of 1960s culture that wasn't represented much--not everyone was listening to blues-inspired rock or folk. This music was still around and a huge part of my 70's childhood, especially on TV. The cover is iconic! I remember when there were a lot more instrumental songs on the radio and in the charts (did that end with Kenny G?) and I wanted to be reminded of that, and remember the great ones. I love the changing of styles of the popular songs--uptempo "Taste of Honey," striptease "Love Potion No. 9," a very Latin "Lemon Tree," and so on--I love when musicians play with songs like that. My 17-year-old son requested this album on our last road trip--I love that he loves this album. The musicians are awesome and that brass kicks ass. It's fun and joyful--those are important emotions, too!

I first encountered this album in my college roommate's music collection circa 1987. I was not impressed with the band name or the music. Strange how I found it kind of catchy this time.

This was new to me, so it wasn't quite what the name "The Burning Hell" suggested to me. (Of course, the same happened with "Barenaked Ladies" back in the day, so there must be something to these lovely, quirky, smart Canadian indie bands.) Turns out I LOOOOOOOVED it. Every time I missed some lyrics I had to go back and check again, and it would always be delightful. And all the wonderful instruments appearing here and there to accompany them. I'm a fan, thank you!

Wow! There were times when I was quite reminded of "The Most Unwanted Song" by Komar & Melamid and Dave Soldier. Let's see, opera singer, check! accordion, check! constantly changing genres, check! Other times I thought of Stefon on SNL: "This albums got everything! klesmer, harpsichord, death metal drums, Satie-esque piano, classical guitar, electronia, Inception buttons, screaming maniacs... Sort of like that old weather joke, "Don't like the music playing here? Just wait 15 seconds!" This was the antidote to all those monotonous 90-minute albums in the project. I don't know what the hell is was, but by end I shouted "again!"

This is great! What a journey through styles! I think this definitely brings some sadly neglected music to the project!

Glad to have listened. Interesting and creative.

Very happy to hear this album I'd not heard of before. Loved the folky indy intimate and interesting instrumental sound!

This was a little morose and monotonous for me. I mean, it was supposed to be, so there you go.

My take on this album is very much the same as their debut album, which is that I love it. In fact, I shall repeat that review as it fits here too: "This is Garbage!" is what anyone would exclaim upon hearing the shortest snippet of this instantly recognizable band. I don't even know how to describe their music except to say that they sound like they'd make a great James Bond theme, which of course, they did. When this album came out, it sounded very edgy and very new, while still being something you could dance to. It still sounds great, and now I want to listen to more Garbage.

Very nice! I was glad to be introduced to this!

I was mystified and fascinated by this one. Do I like this? I don't know. I don't understand. It was certainly never unpleasant. Is it amazing? Is this the 21st century equivalent of prog rock? The feeling I had listening to this was like when my middle school students show me their favorite YouTube Shorts (famous example being Skibidi Toilet). As they seem like a completely random series of images and sounds to me, I have no idea why they like it or what it means, and I feel super old. Or in the words of Grandpa Simpson: "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me." Today I really felt that for the first time in this project. It's not anything I reject or hate, but I just don't get it. It's something really Gen Alpha. And it's time for us to move forward in music! Bravo! Oh whole new world!

An enjoyable listen!

Wow! There were times when I was quite reminded of "The Most Unwanted Song" by Komar & Melamid and Dave Soldier. Let's see, opera singer, check! accordion, check! constantly changing genres, check! Other times I thought of Stefon on SNL: "This albums got everything! klesmer, harpsichord, death metal drums, Satie-esque piano, classical guitar, electronia, Inception buttons, screaming maniacs... Sort of like that old weather joke, "Don't like the music playing here? Just wait 15 seconds!" This was the antidote to all those monotonous 90-minute albums in the project. I don't know what the hell is was, but by end I shouted "again!"

This felt a little like hanging with some bros in the '90s. Maybe not my first choice, but I had fun listening to it today!

I noticed the lack of albums from Japan (or even East Asia as a whole) in the 1001 albums project, so I was happy to have this J-pop album to listen to. That said, this one is absolutely easy to listen to, but I can't say it's super memorable for me.

I haven't heard a good epic concept album in a long time (historically speaking). My Chemical Romance did it! Glad to have been introduced!

It's pretty dang cool overall

This doesn't feel like an untrodden path in this project, but it is one I enjoyed listening to more than some that were in the list. Quite enjoyable.

This was new to me, so it wasn't quite what the name "The Burning Hell" suggested to me. (Of course, the same happened with "Barenaked Ladies" back in the day, so there must be something to these lovely, quirky, smart Canadian indie bands.) Turns out I LOOOOOOOVED it. Every time I missed some lyrics I had to go back and check again, and it would always be delightful. And all the wonderful instruments appearing here and there to accompany them. I'm a fan, thank you!

This is great! What a journey through styles! I think this definitely brings some sadly neglected music to the project!

Lovely and sad, a very welcome addition to the wonderful Illinois album.

Sweden? Hell yeah, Sweden! Beautiful songs, beautiful harmonies, beautiful instrumental arrangements. I would be happy to just keep listening to this one all week.

Norway? Hell yeah, Norway! At first I just thought this was very lovely, but maybe not super distinctive, and then it proved me wrong by going to some very interesting places. Moog?! I love this lots!

I really liked the idea of this, but really didn't love listening to it.

There were some moments where I really got in the groove of this, but mostly I didn't.

This was one of the albums I thought might be in this project, so I was very glad to see it here! I think it's the best francophone album of at least the last 20 years. Love it lots!

This was beautiful and something well worth listening to. I would have been happy to give up a couple of Neil Young albums to hear more contemporary classical music in the project. This really caused me to feel some emotions while listening (although I couldn't exactly tell you what they were).

Here's a few random thoughts on why I chose this album: It was such a part of popular culture that I do think everyone should hear it. It's a part of 1960s culture that wasn't represented much--not everyone was listening to blues-inspired rock or folk. This music was still around and a huge part of my 70's childhood, especially on TV. The cover is iconic! I remember when there were a lot more instrumental songs on the radio and in the charts (did that end with Kenny G?) and I wanted to be reminded of that, and remember the great ones. I love the changing of styles of the popular songs--uptempo "Taste of Honey," striptease "Love Potion No. 9," a very Latin "Lemon Tree," and so on--I love when musicians play with songs like that. My 17-year-old son requested this album on our last road trip--I love that he loves this album. The musicians are awesome and that brass kicks ass. It's fun and joyful--those are important emotions, too!

Oh man, why wasn't this in the project? This defined the late '80s, I think! Why haven't I heard these songs in so long? And all together on one magical album! I wish I'd bought this back then. Horn section! I was so happy to listen to this today!

I first encountered this album in my college roommate's music collection circa 1987. I was not impressed with the band name or the music. Strange how I found it kind of catchy this time.

Love this!

Driving along my morning commute, enjoying Green's smooth voice and sweet Wurlitzer piano, I nearly had a few accidents as my attention was continually drawn away from potential road hazards to the lyrics. "What did he just sing? Where the hell did that come from? Am I not following the narrative? Oh my God, they closed the road for construction!" As soon as I could, I had to listen again (yay for so much goodness packed in a half hour!) and follow along to try and see if my attention was at fault or if the lyrics were, indeed, absolutely bonkers. Bonkers and brilliant! That said, even without the lyrics I would absolutely love this dreamy-sounding album.

I love this! Thank you!

I must admit that when I saw this album I thought sarcastically, "Well, here's an era and genre that wasn't well enough represented in the project!" And then I really enjoyed it and got annoyed that it wasn't there in the project when so many other lesser albums were. This is an album I'd play for someone if I wanted to represent the best of 1968. A really fun variety of good things here!

All the electronic sounds would have kept me from thinking this was really "indie folk," but then again it's part of such an interesting blend of genres. While I sometimes wondered if I liked it, I was always captivated by it and thought it had quite beautiful moments.

Personally, the '90s to me makes me think of the Dave Matthews Band right away, so I was a little surprised that they didn't slip any albums into the 1001 list. This isn't the album of theirs that I know best, but it's one I've really been impressed with, enjoyed, and so glad to have heard today. Good stuff!

What a crazy story! This means, even if I wouldn't put this on regular play, I loved it as the epic rock opera it is.

It's not often I've said this in this project, but I think I would have enjoyed this a bit more in my youth when it came out. I was familiar with Robyn Hitchcock's earlier album and found it quite fun and different back in the day. I maybe had just a little less patience for this as it seemed to go on a long time and the quirkyness felt a bit forced to my old jaded self. That said, I did like it a lot!

This is a 3.5 but I'm going to round up because I learned the difference between Dub and Reggae, and I liked it.

Super fun! Loved it.

Well, there was some breakin', some rappin', some breakin', some graffiti, some breakin', and then some Cylons! It has some very 80s throwback feels to it, and sometimes I really loved it!

This is some badass folk music! Listening to it, I felt like I was ready to start some epic shit as I pulled up to work. Love it!

I loved being introduced to this. They do like to play it all. So much fun! Five stars for five neat guys!

I recognized the name of Ani DeFranco and wondered, "Wasn't she a 70s disco singer?" As I started listening I realized how wrong I was, but also that I didn't really recognize the music. Only then did it come to me that she is frequently featured in the New York Times Crossword. Where was I in the 90s? Under some rock I guess. That said, I thought this was pretty great, and would have been well placed in the 1001 list.

This wasn't the best for driving to work on a groggy, dark morning. That might have skewed my take on it.

Really beautiful

This was a fun, catchy time. I always liked "Weird Science," but I am really glad to have enjoyed this whole great album.

It really rocked sometimes, but overall I got tired of it.

Lots of fun, and bonus points for a song about the movie Xanadu.

This hit the spot today. I again enjoyed The War on Drugs.

I enjoyed the Sparks album in the 1001 list, Kimono My House, but this is somewhat different with its disco Moroder beat. I love it, too! Bonus points for hearing some sorely missing disco from this project. Thank you!

I was very glad to hear more of The Lumineers today, only having really known "Ho Hey" previously—that being a favorite song. This was great, I loved it lots and I was not only just permitted to play the whole thing with my more musically picky spouse in the room, she loved it too. Thanks for a nice afternoon listening together!

I thought I was really going to like this at first but the longer it went on the less I enjoyed.

This made me think of the AM radio music in the background of late '70s summer memories. Enjoyable but not distinctly memorable to me.

It was lovely.

I was so happy to hear some catchy, dancy synth pop today! It feels like it's been forever since I've gotten to hear the like. This was new to me, as I'm not sure it made it to the US back in the day, and I really had a good time listening. Yay! Thanks!

I was unable to really connect with this today.

Once in a while, I really love a good metalcore song. (It doesn't really matter which one, since they all tend to sound the same.) I pump my fists and rock along. However, a whole album of metalcore just gets both grating and monotonous to me. I just think about how much the singer probably needs a cough drop.

I just love getting an album I've never heard of that blows me away with its amazingness. This puts together so many wonderful things in its own distinctive blend. Yay Valerie June!

Here's another album and group I'd never heard of, much less heard. The cover and year of release made me a little nervous about what I would be in for. Turns out it was silly to have any doubts about this recommendation. It evokes the best of power pop from a half-century ago, while at the same time feeling much more modern than 1993. Each song is a distinctive, grand theatrical creation and the whole thing is just goddamn fun. Thank you for sharing this! xx

I really liked the first two tracks and then got a little bored as it went on. I’m rounding up for that first part!