Traffic

I have very important announcement to make: Traffic is the band that Grateful Dead fans think the Grateful Dead is.

Traffic dares to beg the question: "What's worse than 70's boomer rock?" It's 60's boomer rock. I could see any one of these tracks being used in a movie that somehow makes it enjoyable. This is old bar music through and through. Another case of "It's not terrible, but not good either" This album started off ok, but it just keeps getting worse further in. I could listen to this if it was playing on a speaker in a building, but probably wouldn't like to be stuck in a car playing it on a road trip This is a strong 2/5 I think I'm becoming more jaded as this goes on...

I've always liked Traffic quite a bit, but not quite as much as my friend Mike who was in a band with me. Mike played keyboards and tried to sing like Steve Winwood. His favorite song to play was Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. One day Mike met this girl and fell in love. I can't remember her name but she was pretty wild. Mike would have threesomes with her and another girl and tell us all about it when we would get together for jam sessions. One night, Mike's girl showed up and hung out with us during our jam session. When she left to go get us some beer, Mike lashed out at our drummer, claiming he was flirting with Mike's girl and was planning to sleep with her. It put a damper on the whole evening and ultimately broke up the band. Mike got engaged to this girl but the morning of the wedding he called me up to tell me the wedding was canceled because they had gotten into a big fight and broken up. I haven't really talked to Mike much since then, I hope he's doing okay. Anyway, I've always liked Traffic but hadn't really listened to this album much. I honestly thought the song "Feelin' Alright?" was by Buffalo Springfield or CSNY - had no idea it was Traffic. This was good, but I think the following two albums - John Barleycorn Must Die and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys - are better. Still, I'm giving it 4 stars.

good old american rock1!! ai olikin englanti. heh.. VITTU PEDOFIILI HÄH?????????? miksi aina pitää olla.. little girl... ei koskaan ole söpöistävä lemmikkinimi aikuiselle naiselle... aina aktuaalinen little girl.... miksi... . I did enjoy "Vagabond Virgin" though; lil bro how. melkein hyvä yritys psykedeelisestä rokista, ei edes kuulostanut vitun hirveältä.. vitsi vaan. Uskomaton albumi.. raskas.... vitsi vaan.. hyi vitty pearly queen

Great, great album. I’m starting to love this band so much! Very good mix of classic rock with a dash of prog and folk. And Steve Winwood is crazy talented. 8,5 out of 10

Uskomaton albumi.. raskas....

10/10 all of Traffic’s albums are so creative and good, but done in such a fun, easy-listening kind of way

Had expected to see Mr Fantasy in this list butthen we got JB Must Die, and now their second album appears. All three albums are 5 stars, but Mr Fantasy impressed me the most and hope it is still included in the list.

Good album

Ah, UK rock. Surprisingly I liked this album, songs did not sound the same which was a huge plus. But still felt like something that you'd just see in the clearance section. Not sure why it's on here.

It was ok

I have never heard about Traffic more than a few words, and I don't think I listened to more than 1 or 2 songs. Now I'm in love with this album. It started so "standard", sounding like any other rock band from the '60s/70s, but it increased and doubled the bet on a strange (and familiar at the same time) mix of blues, classic rock, and a bit of experimentalism that really catches me. I hope to see more Traffic on the list since I got "John Barleycorn Must Die" some months ago, and it was far from the work I see here at this album.

This was a very well produced album featuring mostly blues rock. There were tinges of jazz and folk influence as well giving the music a more sophisticated sound. The songs felt balanced, well layered, and had an almost Grateful Dead like feeling of spontaneity though Traffic are a much tighter band (at least in the studio). Overall, the album was very light and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

And the award for the worst band name ever goes to… Traffic! I haven’t heard of them before, but why would you name a band after rage-inducing street congestion? Each to their own, so let’s find out if the music is good. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Vagabond Virgin This was really good! It reminded be a fair bit of a lot of southern rock bands like 38 Special, so I was surprised to see they’re from Birmingham. To my ears they sound very American, but that would be me being wrong! The music is enjoyable here. There were no songs at all that I didn’t enjoy, but there were only a few that stood out as fantastic. Overall, a good album. Give it a try.

No. 282/1001 You Can All Join In 3/5 Pearly Queen 4/5 Don't Be Sad 3/5 Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring 3/5 Feelin' Alright 4/5 Vagabond Virgin 3/5 40.000 4/5 Cryin' To Be Heard 3/5 No Time To Live 3/5 Means To An End 4/5 Average: 3,4 Really diverse album. All songs are pretty good. Felt like it had even more potential with better production.

This was a pretty standard 60s psychedelic/prog rock album and it had some good tracks (who knows what tomorrow, medicated goo). Don’t have much else to say but it’s hard to decide between a 3 and 4.

Traffic is a band that I'm aware of and could name one track from the band (not on this album), but I haven't listened to them much. I have seen others refer to Traffic as a band that they have enjoyed exploring, but I haven't been able to catch that spark to ignite my personal interest. I feel like my understanding of the band hasn't found its context in my personal listening experience or my understanding of where their music fits within pop culture. Overall, the album was okay. I listened to the extended version of the album and was fine with that. I think Joe Cocker has ruined "Feelin' Alright?" so that track is a drawback to the album. As long as I don't have to think about the lyrics to "Vagabond Virgin" I can round to 3 stars.

Traffic était déjà venu nous laisser un souvenir des plus périssables et remet le couvert avec ce projet déjà oublié.

Quel plaisir de voir que tout est rentré dans l'ordre, et que Robert nous propose de nouveaux albums insipides. C'est important de revenir aux bonnes vieilles habitudes !

Couldn't be more MOR if it had yellow lines painted down the middle of it.

So I’m a fan of Traffic, but have never worked my way through all of their albums – but the bulk of the catalog that I’ve heard, I have enjoyed… They seem to be one of those bands that have a few outstanding tracks per album, so their goodness is spread across the catalog… I get that this was their 2nd album, but the songs seem to be all over the place – and I was partial to the sound on the debut album “Mr. Fantasy”… Looks like it was the clash between Dave Mason’s more pop orientation, and Winwood & Capaldi’s more jazz and blues influence – with mason eventually leaving… Regardless, there are a couple of gems on here – even if it really doesn’t flow like most albums… Liked “Feeling Alright” obviously, but also enjoyed “Roamin’ Thro’ The Gloamin’”, “Withering Tree”, with the best track on the album IMO being “No Time To Live”… Guess I’m a “Mr. Fantasy” & “Low Spark” kinda guy… Solid 2 for sure…

Pearly Queen is really good don't be sad was just ok who knows what tomorrow may bring is cool feelin' alright is a great cover Roamin Thro The Gloamin was pretty cool too Means to an end, good Overall I really enjoyed this album, I've never heard anything from Traffic before besides Mr Fantasy, which was not on this album. I think I'll be revisiting this for sure.

Man, take me back! This is so good! I'm Feelin' Alright!

Good album, long ago

Great, lovely album

My kind of music! Good rock album to do a road trip. I didn't know that Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi came out of this band. No wonder that's so good! I knew Steve from his solo song Higher Love (on the soundtrack of GTA V) and Jim from a cover of a Brazilian song called "Anna Julia" (very popular here) with the participation of George Harrisson. It was a good surprise and i'll leave 5 stars.

Traffic deserves to sit in the pantheon of British rock with The Who and the Beatles.

Stunning album. Love it

Big Album !

just a beautiful record ........

Traffic sound like one of those groups who split up then had seperate bouts of outrageous success. Not the case but this is a very tight album. Bloke got some serious soul in his voice. Trying to place this somewhere in the Country Music time line (I finished the Ken Burns doco btw the way - more on that later) but all I got to was r&b blues country psych rock

Sounds great

This just fucking slaps. It's like Kansas, but turned down to like and 8, rather than an 11. I was really worried the album would fall flat a bit as it went on, but it constantly surprised me and some of the back half was even better (not all of it). This is saved, added to playlists, and I can't wait to listen to it again.

cool

Well, Traffic rock. Loved it.

4.6/5

Rootsy and bluesy compared to the debut. Love the piano and winds playing.

Splendid stuff that.

Amazing blues rock album with the right amount of folk mixed in. Great range of instruments including flutes and organ add a unique sound that I think is quite ahead of it’s time. 9/10 but rounds up.

early pysch rock with some super solid jams.

For some reason never checked out this band, but this album sounded great. Good mix of rock, funk, and folk, and even some progressive rock that reminded me of early Genesis (especially on No Time to Live).

Not sure why this particular Traffic album was chosen - hopefully some of the others will make an appearance later on. Very 1960's but hints of what's to come.

an interesting work, mostly as a jumping off point for artists who had greater success (or influence) outside of the confines of the band

The first side is fantastic and has some catchy songs but the second side was a bit of a step down. A bit of a varied album in terms of quality and genre, but overall pretty good. Best tracks: Feelin' Alright, You Can All Join In.

That kinda classic late 60's early 70's sounds. Not aggressive, just here for the vibes.

äh vad fan. det får en fyra. fattar inte riktigt vad alla gnäller om detta. det är 60 tals rock utan att det är så mycket psykedeliskt. vad kan bli fel?

I was already familiar with this album. It's part of a string of great albums that also includes Mr. Fantasy, John Barleycorn Must Die, and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. This album is probably the most well-rounded out of all of them. It has some whimsical Dave Mason tunes but also some much more heavy sounding stuff in 40,000 Headman and No Time To Live. It's a nice listen, I would listen again for sure.

Braaf maar leuk album, kan bijvoorbeeld makkelijk in gezelschap opgezet worden. Zal hier vast nog wel eens naar luisteren.

Didn't know this was the 'Feelin' Alright'' band! Decent album.

late 60s post-summer of love disillusion "back to basics" british rock steeped in blues and folk is never rly one of my preferred vibes but tbh this might be about as strong as it gets for me (unless like, abbey road counts). maybe because that description is already a slight misnomer (there's definitely some notable psychedelic remnants on this, just not super garish or whatever), but its still definitely part of that stylistic transition from the 60s to the 70s marked by a resistance to the excess that had been building thru the decade's innovations. and yet somehow it doesnt feel one bit less creative tbh! i especially love the last three songs here as a sequence, some muscular stretching out of ambitions before collapsing into a humble earthy finale. rly great guitar licks and songwriting twists in general across the record, again maybe not exactly my idiom but it all feels idiosyncratic and melodically strong. the hammond organ on here also kicks ass, and the gruff vocals here are some of the better british rnb growls ive heard (sounds like damning with faint praise LOL but theyre good!). strangely unsurprising that this band eventually became a prog outfit

My favorite of the so-called British Invasion bands.

Favourite songs: Feelin' Alright?, Medicated Goo, (Roamin' Thro' The Gloamin' With) 40.000 Headman, You Can All Join In, Vagabond Virgin, Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Means To An End, Pearly Queen, Am I What Was Or Am I What I Am Least favourite songs: Don't Be Sad, No Time To Live 4/5

Excellent grooves. One star for each ten thousand headmen.

Chill grooves for my Wednesday...kind of boring though...4

Not my favorite Traffic album but still good.

Some nice sixties rock always hits the spot!

Better than average

Awesome 60s rock, featuring Feelin' Alright

Absolutely loved this one, so many good songs, if there was 4.5 option it'd go there.

High and lows, overall really fucking good.

This album feels different than the 3-4 other Traffic albums I've heard. Seems less Wynwood-y, less psychedlic, less adventurous. I thought it started and ended strong, but withered in the middle. 4/5

Never heard traffic before, actually thought this album was really good craic

I really liked this. There's lots of variety on this album. Feelin' Allright? is a classic! Liked songs added: - Pearly Queen - Who Knows What Tomorrow Will Bring - Feelin' Allright? - Cryin' To Be Heard - Medicated Goo - Shanghai Noodle Factory

First time hearing of this band but it feels like I already know them - their music is a really cool mix of genres, and the album feels really balanced. Pearly Queen, No Time To Leave, and Shanghai Noodle Factory were good. It never got boring, despite being on the long side.

Never heard of these and thought it was mostly really quite good. Quite psychedelic in parts, but then some not so much so. Bit folky too which was good, I think I remember a flute too which I can get behind. Liked medicinal glue. 3.5

Some legit guitar work on this album. Nothing stands out as exceptional, but all very good.

Good folk album, enjoyed it, definitely embodies the era.

This is a really great album

Very creative and enjoyable.

great album, good listen better than john barlycorn im saying it squeaks a 4 Thanks

I love Steve Winwood, so of course I am going to like this! It's picking up the pieces of everything that was happening in the 60s, and making a great concise expression out of it. The songs tend to be a bit to long, without any good reason for them to be so long. I will also say that Winwood got better as he aged, but this is still an objectively great record.

A cool record from one of the coolest bands of the '60s, thogh not their coolest (that would be Barleycorn or Low Spark). "Don't Be Sad," the understated "Feeling Alright" and "Roamin' Thro' the Gloamin" and "Cryin' to be Heard" and "Shanghai Noodle Factory" are all plus cuts, though maybe the lack of a clear blockbuster or unforgettable hook holds this back slightly.

I really enjoyed it. I feel like giving it a four today.

These guys are great. Funky, jazzy, soul-y — just a classy blend of genres with solid songwriting and musicianship.

Had no idea who this band was, or that Steve Winwood was in it … instantly knew the opening track “You Can All Join In” — it’s one of those classic rock songs that I’ve always known but never knew who sang it. Same for the second track “Pearly Queen.” And I had no idea they originated “Feelin Alright,” which I’ve always known as a Van Morrison song (for the record, Morrison’s version is better). There are some massive songs on this album. I listened to this right after listening to The Zutons, so maybe I was just primed for saxophone, but I was immediately jamming to the first song (I think I’m realizing I just really like sax in rock — why did that die out?). The psychedelic blues jam on the second track kept it rolling, and even into the slower Neli Young-esque third track, “Don’t Be Sad,” I was grooving. This album is somewhere between the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Deep Purple, Cream, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, and the Allman Brothers Band. All the vocal performances are fantastic. The sax solos are particularly great, as are the guitar solos, but all the musicians are on point. Vagabond Virgin is a big misstep on an otherwise great album — the lyrics are super creepy and the music is also kind of cringe. Probably would’ve been a 5 if not for this track. 4/5 (but really a 4.5) Psychedelic blues rock might be my bag. Note: This review concerns the original 10-track album. The re-release has another five tracks on it, and it’s pretty hit or miss. “Withering Tree” would’ve been a good track, but the vocals are too shrill. “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” isn’t my thing, and the production on it is pretty bad. The other songs are decent.

Quite a mix here. Winwood's rock jams are a superb counterpart to Mason's folk-rock tracks. Very well produced, an easy listening.

This was kind of cool.

I became a big Steve Winwood fan in the 80s and had known he had made a name for himself in Traffic but that was about as far as my knowledge went. This is some fine 60s music - I can hear Steve clearly in the mix - so I liked it.

Solid composition, recording, and arrangement. Is far more interesting and refined than your typical pub band of the time, and manages to walk a fine line of just enough progressive rock, jazz fusion, folk, polka, and blues to keep it interesting but not too much to frighten off the mainstream pop rock listeners. A 70s proto record that was 2-3 years ahead of its time. At 57 minutes Traffic's second album TRAFFIC has great pacing, but begins to test one's patience. I mean, props to them for providing value for a time when you had to actually purchase an album for a sizable chunk of cash, so you couldn't help but be cautious about which albums you committed to buying. Favorite songs: "You can All Join In", "Feeling' Alright?", and "Medicated Goo".

Pretty solid. The stuff that doesn’t mean anything is better than the psychedelic stuff.

Enjoyed this one. Thought it had a lot of strong songs. 3.5/5

Not as good as I'd hoped, but Stevie Winwood is always worth listening to.

Was surprised by how much I like this album. Had some really cool sounds to it, and will definitely revisit a lot of the songs. Not every song was great, but a majority of them were.

4.0

Good, good album. The first gig I ever went to was Steve Winwood in the late '80s, and whilst his solo stuff is very different (and significantly less enjoyable) than this it's still his voice, and he really does have one of the great blues rock voices.

I really enjoyed this. Quite surprised I'd never heard of them, although Steve Winwood's name rang a bell. Thoroughly enjoyed the mix of blues, folk, and psychedelic. You Can All Join In was a strong opener, and Pearly Queen sounded like the authentic blues rock experience I was sorely lacking yesterday when I had to review The Black Keys. Feeling Alright is certainly a classic I'm not sure if I'd ever head the original. Not perfect by any means, but a very solid record IMO.

Far out.

Only got one listen, but really enjoyed the album. Will need more listens, but it just seems like a lot of rock stereotypes of today are from this album. 4/5!

Wasn’t sold on the album until the song No Time To Live. A fun album that covers some topics not so often covered in the late 60s. The lead singer has some good chops too. Album is a bit long but solid. Standouts: Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Feelin’ Alright, 40.000 Headman, Cryin’ To Be Heard, No Time To Live, and Shanghai Noodle Factory.

Yes - love this band. Highly original and distinctive. OK, just like in this cover photo Steve Winwood was central to the whole thing, no Winwood no Traffic etc, but they were a really good band. And there was definitely better to come after this, their second album.

Liked it a lot

Day128 - it blows my mind that 20 year olds were making such great music

This was some fun late 60s British stuff I'd never heard. Again, please!

This is fine, like the other Traffic album on this list. I would characterize it as a better version of the Grateful Dead. But I don't really see why it deserves to be on this list; certainly two albums by this band is too much. What is great is the album cover. Seriously. What are they wearing? Each one of them is individually, uniquely, bonkers. Extra star for sartorial excellence.

The album was a lot of fun. I will listen to it again. 4/5

Standouts: Feelin’ Alright, You Can All Join In, Pearly Queen, Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Vagabond Virgin, No Time to Live. 4/5

Blues folk rock. Un megahit. Un 4.

Really great album. Love the bluesy vibes and Steve Winwood’s soulful voice. Only thing that stops it from being perfect is the fucking organs…..what is it about late 60s / early 70s and fucking organs

Actually, very good

Interesting and certainly cool but lacks killer hooks and clear hits and gets a bit muddly to the middle. There are plenty of cool moments, just enought to merit a 4, one thinks and one will keep listening to Traffic long after this counting exercise gets completed. But, LBH, there's a bit more flute than any rock record should have. Lord knows it could do with crisper, cleaner production. The English folk tradition was better done by Fairport. "Don't Be Sad" is best cut, but one also digs this original version of lower-key "Feeling Alright" and "Roamin' Thro' the Gloamin" (title alone is great). "Cryin' to be Heard" has a minor majestly, with its Procul Harum vibes and liturgical notes. Not sure if "Shanghai Noodle Factory," was a B-side, outtake or deluxe version add-on or what, but its groovy, mellow jam-bandy groove clearly should have been on the record, perhaps even the centerpiece. Winwood's voice has never been a personal fave, really. It must also be said that JBMD is undoubtedly better and Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys might be, too, certainly offers a better showcase for their alleged virtuosity.