Lots of keys. Nothing that stood out from anything else during that time.
Across the Great Divide - a bah da da dah'y. I feel like this may feel like a different version of Workingman's Dead. It includes The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down which is a great tune of lament. Who doesn't like Up on Cripple Creek. Jemima Surrender was a new track for me that has great harmonies and shared vocals although the theme of the song doesn't quite land in 2026. Jawbone reminds me of a few songs that came out later, oddly enough Dreamweaver being one of them. King Harvest might be my favorite "new to me" song on the album.
Although I've never been a huge fan of Wayne's voice, this story is undeniable. What a great concept album. Lots of variety and fun. Squishy synths and bass, orchestral arrangements, and it was eventually made into a play that I saw while it was being tested at the La Jolla Playhouse. The play really highlighted the story which made this an enjoyable listen. Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell and Do You Realize/All We Have is Now are my faves.
I did not like this as much as I had hoped. It seemed like a mashup of George Michael and Chris Cornell without the vocal strength. There were a couple of okay tracks. The Hallelujah was nowhere as great as people claim. Did not favorite one track.
60's big do wop first track. A song for the ages "Four Women". Slides into a sultry following track. Another love forlorn - "Lilac Wine". Break Down and Let it All Out is a nice surprise. Nina has a really unique vibratto which is heard throughout. It's raw and raspy. I can hear the Billie Holiday influence. Tortured songs of lament.
Oh, so this is the Bob Dylan that I think I like. Subterranean Homesick Blues is a classic. Maggie's Farm is a romp. I like that this early Bob is when his singing voice is at his best. Love Minus Zero is not for me, it's too desperate. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream paints a great picture. Looking further down the track list, a lot of these tracks were covered by other bands over the years to varying success. Hey Mr. Tambourine Man is a song that makes me not like Bob Dylan. It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding is an acoustic protest, and I imagine is a Dylan fan favorite. I had to tap out before the end of the last track. I'm glad it's all over now.
I always confuse Pulp with Blur and I'm like "I love the woo-hoo" song! Then I realize this is not that band. This band has more of a Bowie/Floyd influence than their peers IMHO. The back half of the ablum has much more depth and what feels like a bit of Primal Scream, The The influence as well. Seductive Barry is an epic track. This remaster is headphone music. It's big and grand at times, while feeling intimate at others. Since I brought up the deluxe reissue, I ended up with a 15 minute version of The Day After the Revolution (Long Outro) and two songs in between that one and the original last track Like a Friend. I skipped those two. This album is a grower. The album should have ended on Revolution.
I couldn't make it through the first track. Skipped to Unchained Melody, it was okay - I think I only like a few songs by Willie, but I love him as a human.
So Freddy didn't sing lead on every song? I noticed that on track 3! This is an amazing energetic, frenetic, soncially interesting. I love that they cover Metallica's Stone Cold Crazy (jk), I know this version came first. The album is operatic and hard rocking. I like this enough that if someone put it on, I would revisit this befor A Night at the Opera because I know that one inside out.
Songs from my very early childhood. I recognize Band on the Run and Jet as nostalgic rockers. I know of Let Me Roll It from Howard's huge affection for the lick.This was a great album, sometimes a bit hokey for me (like the beginning to Mamunio) but I would play this one again straight through.
I guess Paul Weller is kinda well known. I wasn't in the know. It's Joe Cocker-ish, very pleasant. Fantastic voice, great production. This is a pleasant surprise. I'm seldom a fan of slow songs coming out jams, so Moon On Your Pyjamas was a bit too shmaltzy. Nice wrap up with Hung Up. A solid choice if you enjoy to Joe Cocker and all of his adjacent sounds. the guitar work is solid as well.
I liked it. A few years ago I wouldn't have. Since I've been leaning into post punk the vocals, especially Nick Cave a likes that used to bother me, I now appreciate this quite a bit more. You can hear the influence this band has had on post-punk that followed it. In particular, Tropical F*ck Storm. Chaotic and noisy and all over the place. See that cat in the lower left hand corner of the album cover? That's how I felt at the end of hearing this.
The opening bars set the tone for one of the most intimate electronic albums of the late '00s. Jamie's production along with Romy and Oliver...chef's kiss! VCR is so pretty. The diverging vocals that eventually coalesce in Crystalised is beautiful. This album is a full vibe of love and longing. I mean if you like echo-y sparse guitar and solid but subtle bass, this is certainly for you.
Intro almost feels like Sabbath with the trudging bass. Religion I and II are a pure take down of structured religion. The mood transitions from angry guitars ending with an electronic sound. While the evolution on the album is interesting to hear, I'm not sure I'd go back.
A perfectly acceptable pop album, but not for me.
I think I needed this album today. It feels like a very small venue - I looked it up, about 125 people.
