1001 Album Complaints
1001 Album Complaints

1001 Album Complaints

The Chop Unlimited

Overview
Episodes

Details

Classic albums' full backstories told by musicians who love to nitpick the details, now with >1M downloads. We do all the research, help you better understand why you love the things you love, plus introduce you to new music and musical ideas you should care about. Want to sound informed, intelligent, and funny when talking about music, even the records you don't like? Want to laugh while you learn more about music production and music history? Then welcome to your new favorite weekly podcast.

Recent Episodes

The Story Behind: George Michael - Faith, Ep. 262
JUN 1, 2026
The Story Behind: George Michael - Faith, Ep. 262
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 https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] 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 Follow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaints We have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some. 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.
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101 MIN
The Story Behind: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, Ep. 261
MAY 25, 2026
The Story Behind: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, Ep. 261
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. 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 https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] 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 Follow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaints 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.
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102 MIN
The Story Behind: Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music from the Penguin Cafe, Ep. 260
MAY 18, 2026
The Story Behind: Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music from the Penguin Cafe, Ep. 260
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 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 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 [email protected] 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 Follow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaints 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.
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91 MIN
The Story Behind: Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, Ep. 259
MAY 11, 2026
The Story Behind: Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, Ep. 259
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. 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 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 [email protected] 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 Follow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaints 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.
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100 MIN
The Story Behind: Primal Scream - Screamadelica, Ep. 258
MAY 4, 2026
The Story Behind: Primal Scream - Screamadelica, Ep. 258
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. 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 https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaints Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaints Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at [email protected] 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 Follow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaints 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.
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107 MIN