1001 Album Complaints

Latest Episodes:

The Story Behind: George Michael - Faith, Ep. 262 Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. George Michael used sheer force of will to make himself a pop star, then tore it all down to re-make himself anew as he kicked off his solo career. Tom, Allan, Marty, and Rob get together to discuss sexy songs with religious overtones, the power of the MTV music video, amd (what else?) hot bass.

Join the comment thread NOW available on our free Patreon to continue the conversation about this episode and get early access to the weekly show 100% ad free, plus 60+ bonus shows like Song Battle and Guilty Pleasures

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Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6n11Fib3YOwK8FKuf1srMJ?si=40265b08742e4c02

Listen to Faith here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/34K1Kvskt9arWy8E1Gz3Lw?si=UpPIzpnnRpOqPgD9PZW-AA

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

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US Merch Store

Next week's album: John Mayer - Continuum

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, Ep. 261 May 25, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Yo La Tengo are the indie band that just keeps going. With a married couple at its core, a deep love of 60s pop, and an abiding interest in fuzzy guitar, YLT is an electric live act that hit a commercial and critical peak with their 8th full length album. Rob, Adam, and Allan get together to discuss melodic noise, nerd rock, and Mr Magoo.

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Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0igIwnGq7or0Bs7voaMzxQ?si=c40a7464c1244e93

Listen to I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3V18DIKvRuwdxc2LE4wuac?si=vT6LWF1JSEGj3z559Uax1g

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: George Michael - Faith

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music from the Penguin Cafe, Ep. 260 May 18, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Penguin Cafe was born of a fever dream - a place where strangely familiar music wafts down a dusty road. Simon Jeffes dreamed it and then made it a reality. Allan, Tom, Rob and a special guest get together to discuss Nintendo music, avant-pop, and using a garage door as an instrument

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Check out special guest Thomas Hughes at: Carol Cleveland Sings on Spotify , Carol Cleveland Sings on Instagram (great videos!), and The Spinto Band (on Spotify)

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/67Wyt3i0X9ppL3Qr88lGQV?si=5c4f3e69e6234896

Listen to Music From the Penguin Cafe here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/2mrujo5T64bQN2SvPWranQ?si=zmhsYHgYR-2Csa3sqFlVJg

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, Ep. 259 May 11, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Marty Robbins lived a frontier life with an outlaw father before discovering his love for making music and specifically writing about the old west. Adam, Rob, and a special guest get together to discuss 1930s slang, the ultra specificity of the storytelling song form, and #1 hits about teens dying in car crashes.

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Check out our special guest Chris Dalla Riva: Buy his book | Listen to his music | Read his newsletter

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hFsnJbfBRD5TYZeEFQHDJ?si=33519bd24c534a4f

Listen to Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3kQpBS26lAj0A0VGl1snRl?si=zCFggroPTY-OXEmrlFCuPg

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music from the Penguin Cafe

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Primal Scream - Screamadelica, Ep. 258 May 04, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Primal Scream started as a jangle pop 60s band, then morphed into a 70s garage rock band, then decided to embrace rave culture and DJ remixes. Rob, Tom, Marty, and a very special guest get together to discuss gospel singing, self-sabotage, and how to smuggle drugs back from Spain.

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nhaLY1VYCrHWQcaiibS5D?si=5a2e9183dbde45de

Listen to Screamdelica here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4TECsw2dFHZ1ULrT7OA3OL?si=h-H2-W6IQ7GNygKNh3NLUQ

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out, Ep. 257 Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Dave Brubeck was raised as a cattle rancher in Califronia's Central Valley before becoming an Army band leader and a symbol of the American collegiate jazz movement. Tom, Rob, and Adam get together to discuss soulless soloing, bland time signatures, and the power of the rhythm section.

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JO24dfXSzFoU3t7ApQbcn?si=6ec39bd55a3443d0

Listen to Time Out here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/0nTTEAhCZsbbeplyDMIFuA?si=jMDRT8ANRYGKw_GCJUCATA

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: Primal Scream - Screamadelica

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Green Day - Dookie, Ep. 256 Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Green Day had built a steady following on the Berkeley punk scene when they (gasp) signed with a major label and spent lots more time and money to make Dookie. Rob, Tom, and Adam welcome a special guest to talk about selling out, exercising preternatural restraint, and of course, lead bass.

Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and get early access to the weekly show 100% ad free, plus 60+ bonus shows like Song Battle and Guilty Pleasures

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0cqyBw7lgXERUVfRHsug5F?si=ddf87a40525049cb

Listen to Dookie here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4uG8q3GPuWHQlRbswMIRS6?si=mC263U2VRvq5JmVs7jkHZg

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: Queen - A Night at the Opera, Ep. 255 Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Queen was given the keys to the studio and knew they had one more shot at the big time, so with A Night at the Opera their ambition hit new heights. Tom, Rob., and Allan welcome a special guest complainer and discuss Wayne's World, homemade guitars, and amplifiers pulled from the trash.

Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and get early access to the weekly show 100% ad free, plus 60+ bonus shows like Song Battle and Guilty Pleasures

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3zpBTPoxYjJGV5jv2HVWgp?si=0f4624fad1b74ee3

Listen to A Night at the Opera here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/7HVoV2lgVsmuiHsjbbUJB4?si=wYrnluTlSB-lm-2f13Lg6w

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: Green Day - Dookie

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream, Ep. 254 Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Smashing Pumpkins spent months in the studio tinkering with novel guitar tones to make Siamese Dream a reality. Tom, Rob, Adam, and a special guest get together to discuss unshielded pickups, jazzy bombastic drumming, and Butch Vig's "other" masterpiece.

Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and get early access to the weekly show 100% ad free, plus 60+ bonus shows like Song Battle and Guilty Pleasures

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3L76RNXUEc4CIVOd7c5iPv?si=0933f8d24a7d41b2

Listen to Siamese Dream here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3YDm8Vu6IOjjVdLNHlJtj0?si=9Mt_el_WR--kjKNRneE_Wg

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

And - our listener submitted ROCK goes DISCO playlist is here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2myIQqMRsQ0f6jrGRbERQz?si=9d59b013c0f14a9b

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home

We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.

US Merch Store

Next week's album: Queen - A Night at the Opera

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind: The Replacements - Let It Be, Ep. 253 Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Replacements cultivated a reckless rock and roll loser attitude and the Minneapolis music scene was never quite the same. Rob, Tom and Marty are joined by a special guest to discuss the punk to sincerity songwriting pipeline, self sabotage on an epic scale, and recruiting middle schoolers to your band

Check out the Immigrant Law Center of MN: https://www.ilcm.org/

Join us on Patreon to continue the conversation and get early access to the weekly show 100% ad free, plus 60+ bonus shows like Song Battle and Guilty Pleasures

https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints

Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints

Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com

Listen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48ExfA3Z8wPyjiZKnZAdVh?si=1b209d3673f241f1

Listen to Let It Be here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/2sOLW5TSgXiLZBacdHxO6m?si=zzf3xLlpRJO2c6aRc8yNlw

And our international playlists continue to grow:

Thai, German, Sweden 1, 2, & 3, Italian, Australian, Belgium 1 & 2

Intro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly Crushers

Outro music: After the Afterlife by MEGA

Follow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at home