

1001 Album Complaints
The Chop Unlimited
Musicians give irreverent takes on "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die", delivered every Monday morning.
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 8, 2025 • 1h 27min
The Story Behind: Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power, Ep. 225
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Pantera transitioned from a glam metal band into the sludgy groove pioneers we know them to be today and tried to scrub the record of their previous KISS-like excess. The guys get together to discuss Dimebag's precision, Phil Anselmo's growling, and how Rob Halford figures into the Pantera story.Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2mLo5AFIVJImBj0ObvLNgJ?si=3266456a08a44743Listen to Vulgar Display of Power here:https://open.spotify.com/album/7kW0cpKgSVsEqcc8xgbSb0?si=FB3lVFd9RsiTvjwVpK_h5AIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: Sonic Youth - EVOL

Sep 1, 2025 • 1h 43min
The Story Behind: The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs, Ep 224
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Stephin Merritt set out to write a songbook's worth of material and record it in his bedroom in Manhattan with the help The Magnetic Fields. He never expected it would become an indie darling. The guys meet to discuss the final listener pick of the summer and touch on universal truth via zither. Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0VBonQ7tg7JsV91P5lV5fi?si=bab06d9d8ea74f6fListen to Soulla's single LP playlist here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ilJyK21fG50M0DWijaALB?si=c1c800d79ace4f23Listen to Rob's single LP playlist here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7CC0zOmKE0qcQ17sbEntoz?si=0db4cd95a6e44592Listen to 69 Love Songs here:https://open.spotify.com/album/2GuROKcqyHdpIDcgxml1C7?si=gJEuFcR4RiKWpIorJRKOpAIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power

Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 34min
The Story Behind: Television - Marquee Moon, Ep. 223
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Television helped kick off the New York music scene of the 1970s by building the stage bands played on - literally. The guys get together live in Wilmington Delaware to discuss a complete lack of choruses, Jimi Hendrix's only guitar student, and Tom Verlaine's connection to the complainers' beloved home state.Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25TzFB72txtXBMp2NdvTXl?si=c5e38d5d15de4c7bListen to Marquee Moon here:https://open.spotify.com/album/630o1rKTDsLeIPreOY1jqP?si=v6OuVf10Q6KSCcx2DxTqUQIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

Aug 18, 2025 • 1h 55min
The Story Behind: The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, Ep. 222
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Pogues were born out of the Irish diaspora in London and out of Shane McGowan's love of the downtrodden. The guys welcome a special (and very relevant) guest to discuss gritty vocals, the ulian pipes, and punk energy filtered through traditional music.Check out Stephen's record club here and reach out to him about joining up if you're in Australia: https://www.youtube.com/@shortcutsrecordsJoin our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Pf64NxZp1IjG3xQKB2Jvo?si=d7e11b6e462e4774Listen to Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash here:https://open.spotify.com/album/5uy9pvgfvVAlZnegK6fPLU?si=Z2bQ2TN4RIq-WrQO8141UgIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: Television - Marquee Moon

Aug 15, 2025 • 43min
BONUS: Song Battle: 90s 1 Hit Wonders - Ep. #1
On our Patreon-only bonus show Song Battle - we pick 16 songs to enter a bracket competition, write tweets about each one while telling a short backstory about how they were made, then vote on who should advance. This is episode 1 of 5 in total in the series. If you like this episode - listen to the entire series right now over on Patreon - it's free to join and it means a heck of a lot to us. Plus there's 40+ more bonus episodes available there including other Song Battle series, Guilty Pleasures, and Vanity Project where we complain about celebrities dabbling in music.https://www.patreon.com/c/1001AlbumComplaintsOur full 16 song bracket playlist for this Song Battle:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0PXHDS6yH8vwEcocDm7F9v?si=7122ca246f3e4470Episode companion playlist (all the songs we randomly mentioned across all 5 SB episodes)https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7qtXvWCGujLns2QO4aXbZS?si=bdb1fd0c0d054594

Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 27min
The Story Behind: Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul, Ep. 221
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Isaac Hayes was a back-of-house songwriter who got thrust to the front of a struggling record label called Stax Records. The guys are live together in the room and talk about 70s funk innovations, massive amounts of confidence, and Phil's spoken word album coming in 2026.Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48bqfjITTRuF2PZIOg5WOT?si=a39a106605fb4ea7Listen to Hot Buttered Soul here:https://open.spotify.com/album/71rxIr6MJYUzDG9ge6Jq3J?si=6Wxgy7__TsOyvCSNpS159AIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: The Pogues - Rum. Sodomy, and the Lash

Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 32min
The Story Behind: Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum, Ep 220
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Blue Cheer were innovators of the noise and loudness approach to rock music in the San Francisco 1960s. The team get together to discuss cover songs getting a modern makeover, bass cabinets rattling in the studio, and terrible mixing decisions. Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1GhVc5kOpw8kAE5TR7zjdH?si=318c58830f23477fListen to Vincebus Eruptum here:https://open.spotify.com/album/3dAjO3dyUP7edWoE1OeB7b?si=2wT_HgeXSBWrDJp-KGaztgIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul

Jul 28, 2025 • 1h 30min
The Story Behind: Brian Eno - Before and After Science, Ep 219
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Brian Eno broke away from Roxy Music and began a prolific solo career both as a solo artist and a highly sought after producer. The boys welcome a special guest and discuss hyper visual audio, anagrams, and 80s British stop motion kids programming. Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Hf8GS4p5zjEJjZYigKola?si=f4ec66fdeee947aeListen to Before and After Science here:https://open.spotify.com/album/6lU1MDxi3TqhKnYNQm555u?si=wfF9m5aHTcScxBVMDzr60AIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum

Jul 21, 2025 • 1h 35min
The Story Behind: Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention - We're Only in it for the Money
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Frank Zappa assembled the Mothers to make anti-authoritarian, anti-hippie, anti-commercial music. This record is unlike anything else you will hear. The boys discuss the avant garde, skewering 60s culture while it's at its peak, and of course, pretentiousness in music. Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4IcxUJeuyqbdC8QbuS6ea6?si=ba8cd857f8f64a40Listen to We're Only in it for the Money here:https://open.spotify.com/album/0L8n5dW0KfoNnLuYfyOFPg?si=swkpsp2jSrilJt60h5UnMwIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: Brian Eno - Before and After Science

Jul 14, 2025 • 1h 25min
The Story Behind: Slayer - Reign in Blood, Ep. 217
Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Slayer was birthed from the bowels of hell (Orange Country, CA) and burst onto the scene with harder, louder, faster music than ever heard before. The fellas tell Slayer's backstory while discussing chaotic guitar solos, wild drum antics, and underbaked lyrics. Join our Mailing List here: https://linktr.ee/1001albumcomplaintsEmail us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.comListen to our episode companion playlist (compilation of the songs we referenced on this episode) here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fNbnCChv5RcncxdG8kA0H?si=f363d92846f34e79Listen to Reign in Blood here:https://open.spotify.com/album/3V3XXF9jna4BvTVAumDbYK?si=VypgzI46SLuViERDbIMq9gIntro music: When the Walls Fell by The Beverly CrushersOutro music: After the Afterlife by MEGAFollow our Spotify Playlist of music produced directly by us. Listen and complain at homeFollow us on instagram @thechopunlimited AND @1001AlbumComplaintsJoin us on Patreon to continue the conversation and access 40+ bonus shows!https://www.patreon.com/1001AlbumComplaintsWe have 1001 Merch! Support us by buying some.US Merch StoreUK Merch StoreNext week's album: The Mothers of Invention - We're Only in it for the Money