1001 Albums Summary

3.5/5

Better than the one on the main list!

2.5/5

3.5/5

I had listened to this back in 2022 and had only given it a 2.5, which feels quite wrong given how much I've been loving 2000s mall emo lately (not to mention how influential this album is + I love Crisis and Watch Out! from this band as well). I think my initial 2.5 was a bit harsh, but I can still see why I would've given it that. I think this band found their footing more on later releases (and the spoken word bits are...), but I guess their debut has such a following for a reason. Also, one of the most iconic album covers in emo.

It's an interesting pick. My impression was that this record was generally not very well-received, but conceptually a Talking Heads album with no Byrne and a myriad of guest vocalists is at least interesting. And there are quite a few pretty cool tracks here. It just sort of nosedives in the second half starting with Don't Take My Kindness for Weakness. There's definitely a share of clunkers here, but still a pretty worthwhile listen.

3.5/5

I think I like Panopticon a bit more. 3.5/5

3.5/5

I've loved Your Ex-Lover Is Dead for years, but never listened to the album till now--glad I did, this is great!

I respect this pick because it very well could have been one of those 80s industrial albums featured on the main list only to end up in the bottom 20 on the website (and I don't mean that as shade because I actually like Kollaps, Opus Dei, Duck Stab, Throbbing Gristle, etc.) 3.5/5