What makes The Commercial Album by The Residents notable?

'The Commercial Album' is notable for its concept of 40 one-minute songs, challenging traditional music formats and expectations. It received critical acclaim for its originality, influencing later experimental artists and contributing to the post-punk movement's ethos of artistic freedom and exploration. Released in 1980, 'The Commercial Album' was The Residents' eighth studio album and marked a significant departure from their earlier work. At this point in their career, they had already developed a reputation for avant-garde music and visual art, solidifying their position as innovative pioneers in the underground scene.

Who is The Commercial Album for?

The Commercial Album works well if you're into surreal snippets of everyday life, quick bursts of experimental ideas and fragmented pacing for curious minds.

How many songs are on The Commercial Album?

The Commercial Album has 40 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

The Commercial Album

The Residents · 1980

42 min · 40 tracks

A surreal collage of short, experimental pieces that defy conventional song structure and narrative.

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Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

surreal snippets of everyday life
quick bursts of experimental ideas
fragmented pacing for curious minds
playful exploration of soundscapes
short tracks for brief listens

Maybe skip if you want

prefer traditional song structures
seek long, cohesive experiences

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 1980, 'The Commercial Album' was The Residents' eighth studio album and marked a significant departure from their earlier work. At this point in their career, they had already developed a reputation for avant-garde music and visual art, solidifying their position as innovative pioneers in the underground scene.
Stylistic neighbors: Captain Beefheart· Frank Zappa· Devo

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Easter Woman 1:03
2 Perfect Love 1:03
3 Picnic Boy 1:01
4 End of Home 1:04
5 Amber 1:02
6 Japanese Watercolor 1:02
7 Secrets 1:03
8 Die in Terror 1:03
9 Red Rider 1:02
10 My Second Wife 1:02
11 Floyd 1:03
12 Suburban Bathers 1:04
13 Dimples and Toes 1:03
14 The Nameless Souls 1:04
15 Love Leaks Out 1:04
16 Act of Being Polite 1:03
17 Medicine Man 1:04
18 Tragic Bells 1:03
19 Loss of Innocence 1:04
20 The Simple Song 1:02
21 Ups and Downs 1:04
22 Possessions 1:03
23 Give It to Someone Else 1:03
24 Phantom 1:04
25 Less Not More 1:03
26 My Work Is So Behind 1:04
27 Birds in the Trees 1:04
28 Handful of Desire 1:04
29 Moisture 1:04
30 Love Is… 1:03
31 Troubled Man 1:04
32 La La 1:04
33 Loneliness 1:04
34 Nice Old Man 1:04
35 The Talk of Creatures 1:04
36 Fingertips 1:04
37 In Between Dreams 1:04
38 Margaret Freeman 1:03
39 The Coming of the Crow 1:04
40 When We Were Young 1:02

What to play next

Listen next

Mark of the Mole

1981

Go back to

Eskimo

1979

Full The Residents discography Artists like The Residents

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata