Thank God for Mental Illness

Brian Jonestown Massacre

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1996)
• Original Release Date: November 20, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bomp Records
• ASIN: B000003JGL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,937 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
1996 album, their third collection of absolutely stunning music, 13-odd tracks recorded on a single day for around $17.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why it is the best, October 28, 2004

By	Danielle M. Carpenter "12to12" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It seems as though many have written this album off, even BJM fans. To me it remains their best work and the album I judge all other BJM albums by. It was how BJM was introduced to me, it was their first album I heard and I was instantly drawn to the raw sound and chaotic energy. Most of their other albums are more polished and clean, not to discount them, but I am always looking for a bit of that raw energy they captured on Thank God For Mental Illness when listening to their other works.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank God for BJM!!!!, October 11, 1999

By	"mymansyd" (Tranmere, South Australia) - See all my reviews

Supposedly recorded for $17, BJM's "Thank God for Mental Illness" puts most American bands to shame. This lo-fi, country-blues masterpiece is one of the great DIY American albums of all-time. Their supposed lack of originality seems to urk many people, but the quality of their songs and their sense of purpose cannot be questioned. Alongside the psychedelic-pop brilliance of the Elephant 6 recording company, they are the most important entity in american pop music today.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lo-fi psychedelic 60's meets hillbilly, July 3, 1998

By A Customer

This is one of four CDs that BJM released in 1996 in between their club performances/bar brawls. I got turned on to the "country psychedia" sounds of this disc early last year in SF when I checked them out at a local club and was nearly hit in the head by this CD when it was flung from the stage as swag. While there would be little hyperbole in my saying that the BJM show was one of the best I've ever seen, I also took a quick liking to live, lo-fi tunes on this recording. This band wins on every single "cool" category that there is in rock, with the possible exception of coolest album art for this particular CD (although, they do take the top spot with coolest logo).