It's 1980 and how many single LP's have 40 songs on them? Not many, maybe none. But this one does. And they're all one minute long. There's a reason for that too. The sleeve notes explain that most pop songs are three minutes long and consist of a chorus and verse repeated three times. So cut out the fat and a pop song (or jingle) is really just one minute long. Therefore The Residents recorded the Commercial Album: an album of 40 one-minute 'pop songs'. And while this concept may sound like a far fetched gimmick it works surprisingly well. Now The Residents' idea of a pop song differs quite a bit from the general opinion. These are The Residents, after all. That anonymous bunch of non-musicians, not exactly known for their catchy tunes. So most songs are based on quirky electronic rhythms, the arrangements are unusual, most lyrics weird, the singing not always pleasant. These 'pop songs' would never survive on Top 40 radio. However, compared to their earlier releases (like Meet The Residents and The Third Reich N Roll) the Commercial Album is quite accessible. It's still an acquired taste but it won't have your cat climb the curtains and can serve well as an introduction to the band.