People

My submission! Chose it before I realised most people's submissions would be folky as well! Love this due to the in depth but playful lyrics and the way each song takes you on a journey, also holds a place in my heart as first concert back after Covid.

This is great, certainly one of the more interesting artists I've been introduced to during this journey. Reminds me a bit of the Eels and maybe Carseat Headrest. Will definitely listen more! 4 stars.

Opening your album with the phrase: 'You were a Nazi-hunter' already earns extra points. And the rest of this album also doesn't disappoint! Always like these voice-over-type vocalists. And it fits the mood of the music perfectly. The lyrics could have easily ended up on the wrong side of cheesyness, but they work for me. Nice find!

Holy Moly! Who would've thought that something called The Burning Hell could make me so happy? Super good!

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!

All kinds of people make a world indeed; Multiply by time and you might arrive at the Burning Hell proximate Norse sagas. That is, I was primed for People: A little knowledge of the band, a little preparation for a highlight if not the highlight. The music here ranges, though it stays objectively on the twee side. The band takes to its loose concept, weaving stories into something more than novelty. Outlook's only a little world-weary. Strangeness-in-form is appropriate to the time, and looks backward to the more-weird.

Sometimes, it is what it is. And it is an album full of storytelling en Fun lyrics. Musically it ain't that great though. But I enjoyed it

Yeah! Fun jaunt of a record I'd say!

Very good!

Very Cake-adjacent. Not bad!

This the first user submitted album I've gotten and what a pleasant surprise! I'll be honest when this showed up I thought it was some kind of black metal something or other so I was dreading listening to to it but this is great. Like others have noted there are similarities here to Bill Callahan and the late great David Berman although what I really like about this is how it's almost whimsical. I'm not sure if that's the most accurate way to describe it but that's what I'm going with. If I was capable of making cool, animated movies, I'd make one based on "Barbarian." Someone get to work on that, please. Finally, this sort of reminds me of another Canadian band whose debut album, the Todd Rundgren produced "Love Junk" was a favorite of mine back in the day, The Pursuit Of Happiness. The music here is a little more instrumentally eclectic the TPOH's loud power pop but I feel a connection here lyrically.

An interesting one, reminds me of a more modern, sardonic Silver Jews. Mostly enjoyed this LP, felt it got a bit too caught up in its own lyrical cleverness here and there but for the most part I enjoyed the stories it was putting down.

Musically this was fine, and lyrically too clever by half. Vocals didn't do a thing for me. Fave Songs: Sentimentalists, Grown Ups, Wallflowers, Travel Writers

If Bill Callahan was annoyingly clever, it would sound something like this.

Really enjoyed his story telling, listened a few times since having this in the generator

Stick the lead singer of cake, the crash, test, dummies, and the Barenaked Ladies into a blender and pour over Ontario Then you might end up with The Burning Hell. Groups like this are often overlooked for no other reason than they weren’t “serious enough”. I guess it’s a bit like comedies rarely winning an Academy award. But I enjoyed this a lot. I do think a little wacky rhyming and crazy storytelling has a place on a list like this. Fun!

That was fun!

I like how they tell stories and how each song is unique.

This album reminded me quite a bit of the Silver Jews. It has a diy folk feel but due to the frontman’s education in ethnomusicology, there are a lot of musical layers here. The lyrics are literate and witty as well. I really enjoyed this album.

Loved it.

Definitely an album that lives or dies by your perception of how clever the lyrics are. The music is fun, but the star is the writing. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't feel too forced most of the time and there were some definite home runs with Amateur Rappers, Barbarians and Industrialists. Really enjoyed.

Its a fun album. The fact that it's not too complicated or sophisticated makes it even more enjoyable. Maybe you just need to be in the mood to listen to it?

Lyrics about 2X too clever for me, and delivered in that alt-dude near monotone not quite sung style that rarely does it for me. I didn't hate it but not for me.

Summed up by the line, "where would I find time for my comedy career" from Amateur Rappers. Very knowingly clever and not revelling in heavy music. Good variety of other instruments. Second half is a bit lacking.

Endearing song writing

Your college band got a record deal!

Very strange, it's like a wordy troubadour with retro rhythms, a hint of Costello...it becomes tiring like listening to singers in a church.

Sorry, this is too much tongue in cheek and theatrical for me, especially when someone doesn't try to sing.

This was a pretty unique album. Felt like a rhythmic slam poetry session but with less slam and more political agenda. Overall it was okay but I couldn’t really get behind the way the singer enunciated so hard in some of his songs it was like he wanted us to know he’s smart. That’s great but good music is better than smart music sometimes. 5.3/10

Okay I’m ready to declare a plague of cutesy, clever, insufferable albums on the user list. From this to Adam green to even Alex Cameron and 100 gecs who I liked it feels like a majority of these albums are just goofy more than anything else. There’s nothing wrong with that on its own it’s just turning into the user version of the over saturation of new wave and post punk on the main list. Taken on its own I just wasn’t into the Cake-like vocals and I didn’t find the lyrics to be particularly funny like I think I was supposed to.

For every accidentally-cool Canadian band (see: Crash Test Dummies) there are a squazillion annoying ones. This guy thought he was saying important things, but it was just shit. 1/5.

Fun