Traffic

Album 156. Traffic (https://open.spotify.com/album/0HXUEUFACh0b3VBhm7jBhi?si=6mYJs5YQT4qpuPU0zgb0CA) — Traffic (1968) A surprisingly good rock album. 3/5 Liked: — Feelin' Alright? — Shanghai Noodle Factory

I was enjoying this at least musically until we got to ‘Vagabond Virgin’ - what the fuck was that? My god.

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? ✅ Would buy on Vinyl? ✅

Not a necessary album. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best songs Feelin' Alright

Good if you like this kind of thing, and I clearly do - it was very obviously an influence on Wild Wood by Paul Weller, and that's getting at least four stars when it comes up too.

+1 Meets notability guidelines.

Not bad at all, and you gotta love Windwoods voice!

Unremarkable rock

Besides Feelin' Alright, I don't think I'd recognise a single song if I listened to this again. And even with Feelin' Alright, I wouldn't be sure if I was listening to the Traffic version or any other of the various similar covers of it.

Favorite Track: Feelin’ Alright?

I love Traffic all day every day

This wasn’t bad, but none of the songs were compelling and I couldn’t connect with the music. Overall pretty boring.

3.5 but I'll go 4 for some sporadic gems of tracks and licks, grooves, melodies, especially in the voc&bass or drum kit.

It’s fine. I preferred it to the previous Traffic album generated for me, John Barleycorn Must Die, but it’s nothing amazing. It’s the kind of thing I always seem to hear when my parents have ‘Sounds of the ‘70s’ on in the car (I know this is from 1968, but it’s the same sound)- you won’t complain about it being on, but you won’t think too much about it either.

As a fan of late-60s bluesy, folky rock stuff I enjoyed the sound of this album well enough, but overall it’s another of those albums that gets 3 stars for being generally okay, with no particular highs or lows to speak of. It’s the kind of thing that makes you appreciate more how good some other groups working in a similar idiom were. ‘Feelin’ Alright?’ is probably the best song, although even there I probably prefer Joe Cocker’s version. This one didn’t make much impact on me and I began to lose interest the longer it went on. Very mid.

fine music for focusing at work, but I've I had to sit and concentrate on this album only, I'd probably run out into traffic.

Traffic by Traffic. On a traffic light scale of Green (go), Yellow (slow down), and Red (stop), I give this a yellow

I didn’t find anything that remarkable. It was fairly interesting late 60s music, with a single “Feeling All Right” that I recognized.

Enjoyed the guitar.

Just a bunch of dudes trying their best. Ain't trying to hurt nobody.

Some solid stuff.

It’s fine, but a bit too long. This album could have been 2 or 3 songs shorter and I probably would have rated it higher. 2.25 / 5

Traffic is a cool band, I however haven't listened to this record as much as John Barleycorn Must Die (also on the list) and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (NOT on the list, what the fuck?). It's a solid record (aside from cringe ass Vagabond Virgin) by a group of great musicians. Their other aforementioned records are definitely better.

★★½

Not much to say

Too 1968-ish for me. I appreciate the jazz and blues parts, non so much the psychedelic and vocals parts.

Da nije pjevač ovog benda poslije postao značajan, čini mi se da bi ovo prošlo potpuno nezapaženo. Mada i realno nema nešto pretjerano da ponudi. Sasvim ok, ne puno više od toga. Mislim kome se sviđa Winwoodov glas može ovo baš gotiviti.

rock né sempre pode piorar, mas esse foi bem okzão

pior que nem foi tããão ruim. rockzinho hippie que não fede nem cheira, nem incomoda ninguém. eh ok!!

It was fine. The album was long though. I recognized Feelin’ Alright.

Started off really strong, You Can All Join In was really fun with some nice country vibes. Pearly Queen was some solid fun rock and roll. And then it just sort of petered out. The rest of it was not bad, but nothing like the first two songs. Except for Cryin' To Be Heard, which had a wonderful guitar solo. Best song: You Can All Join In

Never heard of this group. It's very of its time, but the vocals are good, and lots of blues-y riffs, some folk, just good early rock. The songs don't all sound the same, there's some variation, which I appreciate. It's not revolutionary but a decent listen.

Not my favorite of the lates 60s rock classics. They were doing such a specific hogwild American blues pastiche à la Rolling Stones that I looked up if they were British and Lo and behold, they are indeed. Good for those chaps. My favorite part of the album was some of the song titles (“Medicated Goo”, “Shanghai Noodle Factory”.)

Overall: 6/10 Honestly, this was fine but nothing really stood out to me. Kind of standard late 60s rock. Bland but not bad. Fav Song: No Time to Live

Suena muy bien. No los conocía, pero creo que han debido ser una gran inspiración para muchas bandas de rock de los 90 y 2000 con un sonido retro. ¿Black Crows? se me vienen a la cabeza. Me guardo Feelini alright? y Medicated Goo.

Very classic late 60s hippy music. Some good songs like medicated goo.

My parents first played me this many years ago. I love it more each time I hear it.

Knowing nothing about this album going in, I gotta say -- what a fun collection of eclectic grooves. Great variation here, with plenty to hold my interest. I'll certainly revisit this.

Previously rated: #941 - John Barleycorn Must Die (4/5) ****************************************** Album #1,073 Listened to just the original 10 track album. Winwood's songs are for the most part better than the other guy's, especially in the vocal department, but Feelin' Alright might be the best track on the album. Other standouts: Pearly Queen and Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring. Some of the mixing didn't seem too good, with drums or vocals too far back in the mix. I'd have to listen to both albums again to know which was better.

This album was solid. Every track had something to keep me interested, whether it was funk elements or rhythmic interest on the blues/rock 'n' roll inspired tracks, or flutes or organs on the pop tracks. There was decent variety and the length was just enough to keep me excited the whole way through. 7/10

I bought this album (used), I think when I was in college, mostly from a vague sense that Traffic were supposed to be a cool n groovy late 60s band (and I liked the song "Feelin Alright" pretty well, although Joe Cocker's version is better known - and better). But listening again now, I'm reminded that, while it was perfectly fine, it was kind of a disappointment, and didn't really grab me. I went to look at the (my) album, and realized/was reminded that I must have given it away when I moved here from the house on Ridgeland, when I gave away a number of my less-preferred albums to WLUW (and to make my albums all fit in the cabinets built by Grandpa Dave). Again, not a bad album; good, but (for me) not great, and maybe not all that interesting or catchy? My favorite track, listening twice today to the 10 original tracks, was "40,000 Headmen" and, in particular the flute played by Chris Wood, who apparently also played "sleigh bells" and a "Coke tin" on the track (2nd album in a row with catchy flute ;) ). 3 stars.

More pretty standard rock, which I’m sure others would say is really influential but to my ears sounds like so much other stuff from the time.

First few tracks in I was groaning thinking this was going to be more blues fare. Thankfully, it was a little different, though nothing to particularly shout about. Felt like the album picked uo towards the back end (quite liked ‘medicated goo’!) but with hindsight, this seems like fairly average fare even if it broke new ground at the time.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. A solid album, scattered but good.

Another one that was good, but maybe not what it once was at the time.

First time listen Decent rock album. Better than some of the 60s rock outfits on this list that have absolutely no place being there. Didn't have a lot of the corny tropes of the era. Not something I'd be eager to listen to again, but I'll probably check out more of this band at some point. Don't really see this as anything essential by any stretch. Favorite tracks: Feelin Alright?, Means to An End Least favorite: Pearly Queen 3/5

First time I've heard this and when your previous exposure to Stevie Winwood is his 1980's comeback pop hits, this album vastly exceeds your expectations.

A somewhat strange album, I'll admit, but definitely better and more interesting than the lone Steve Winwood solo album in this collection. The first three tracks pretty much sums up the good, the bad and the ugly of this album, with Dave Mason's campy "You can all join in" followed by a very Winwood-sounding "Pearly queen" (and with Mason largely absent), then somewhat awkwardly mashing both styles/preferences in the syrupy "Don't be sad". The rest of the album consists mainly of (subtle) variations on one of those three directions, with a few genuinely good tracks (mainly "Who knows what tomorrow may bring" and the lyrics to "Feelin' alright" (although Joe Cocker's version is *so* much better)) and more than a few duds (pride of place for the super tacky and creepy "Vagabond virgin" that might have made Jethro Tull proud). I know these guys were revered--and largely still are--in many quarters, but as a non-aficionado I think nonplussed pretty much sums it up for me.

Half of this album (Mason) is brilliant and half is pretty good (Winwood). I'll round up.

Hard to believe Stevie Windwood was an early teen and had such a soulful voice.

Used to rock this back in high school…. in 2007.

Ok, feels kinda generic.

I feel like this was added for 'Feeling Alright'. The rest was okay but pretty standard for this era. It's competently made and listenable but no real standout moments.

mid

Музыка для ситигриля Не дослушал, скучно Не плохо и разнообразно 2.9

booooring. please give me something good i need to get back into committing to this silliness

This really was incredibly boring, and a perfect example of bands trying on the popular sounds of the time hoping to be relevant. First off: there's clearly two guys writing two different kinds of songs, and they really don't mesh very well. Second: the songs aren't very original, interesting, or vital. Third: the mixing is awful, it's like their sound guys just discovered how stereo works and are fucking around with what they can do. The back-and-forth panning on "Pearly Queen" is so annoying, I almost didn't want to finish the record. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the br*tish are over-represented on this list and most of it falls into this bucket of "try-hard, wanky group of scrawny white dudes trying to be the next Beatles by ripping off of whatever is happening in America." Another album I didn't need to hear before I die.

Like many people, I hate traffic. As a nascent driver, I find heavy traffic to be very stressful, almost to my breaking point. However, I don't hate Traffic(the band). Nor is Traffic(the album) a bad record. It's not a particularly good record either. It's just bog standard 60s dad rock with hints of psychedelia. The weird high-pitched guy is hard to listen to, but the other guy is tolerable. The lyrics aren't anything special(includes a song about having relationships with a teenager, as usual for the period), and it's not very sonically interesting. I struggle to ascertain why I must hear this without fully hating it, which is sadly all too common with the project's records(especially on weekends). There's a saxophone solo on one track and it's the most intriguing thing that happens on the album. So really, it's a random 60s rock album that I find rather forgettable and mediocre.

It was fairly interesting

Fairly generic 60s folk-rock guitar. Presumably innovative at the time because of random additions like pan pipe and organ on most tracks. Didn’t do it for me.

I know Traffic from the handful of songs that would come onto classic rock radio over the years. Not sure I’ve ever listened to a full album, but generally enjoy their sound from the little I know. Enjoying this early on. Kinda bluesy 60s rock with some great fun guitars. There’s a hint of 60s psychadelic rock behind some of it. There’s a bit of a funky/jazzy sound on a few songs too. A clean 60s classic rock sound overall on a lot of it. It does seem to lack a cohesive sound, but that might be part of its charm. Vagabond Virgin starts the second half and has a unique sound from a lot of the first half with a heavier flute use. Kinda really liking this overall. When you think it’s finding a groove, it kinda throws you off with a slightly different sound which still manages to keep your interest. Nothing overly blew me away but enjoyed it overall. Feels like somewhere between a 3 and a 4. It’s on the high end of 3, but didn’t wow me as a whole, despite liking a lot of the songs. Not sure if I’ll listen again and decide if it earns the 4, but settling on the 3 for now.

FANTASTIC ALBUM! Brings me back to younger days : )

Not a bad band. Some good tracks on this album.

The West Midlands had it nailed in the late 60s, so much music pouring out

1960s type music. Ok

A loud, bombastic party album typical of the era. They remind me very much of ZZ Top and the Doors. This album is either the best or the worst album to play for a depressed person, and I can't tell which. Either way it's straight forward but enjoyable. Ithe first few songs elicit joy in a pure form. Oh, I have heard Feelin' Alright many times before. I feel like I've gone 'round the mulberry bush and through the Shanghai noodle factory.

Knew a few songs, most were new though. Gives early zeppelin vibes, with some Jethro tull thrown in. Good instrumental jams, worth a relisten

Traffic’s self-titled record feels like a perfectly preserved late-60s time capsule. It’s pastoral without being precious, exploratory without completely drifting off the map. The blend of rock, folk, light psychedelia, and jazz touches gives it a richness that rewards attentive listening. Steve Winwood’s Hammond work is a real highlight, woven into the songs rather than dominating them. It’s instructive if you’re paying attention to how keys can sit inside a rock arrangement without overwhelming it. The textures, flute accents, and shifting moods capture the era beautifully. The first half is especially strong, with a sense of curiosity and freshness that pulls you in. The second half loses a bit of momentum and focus, and while nothing is outright weak, it doesn’t quite sustain the same spark. It may not hit the emotional resonance needed for a five, but it’s a very cool record that captures its moment with style and musicianship. A solid four.

Ok, there were some good songs on this!

I enjoyed listening to this, but probably will never do so again.

Top

Review - not my sort of thing but has some decent tracks. Fairly standard 60s blues rock fair, but the tracks sang by Winwood are a lot more interesting. He almost sounds like Nina Simone sometimes, which immediately elevates this band above their contemporaries. Rating - 7/10 Need to listen? YES

Sure whatever.

Somehow I don't think I've ever listened to this album. Like most Traffic, I enjoyed it but it just isn't that special to me.

- 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummers al toegevoegd aan MMMM

Late 60’s bands are like flutes! Intermittent honking! Borrowed nursery rhymes! The only thing that could make this worse (better?) is more cowbell.

Frekar næs miðað við djammband frá 1968, góð grúv, engir stefnulausir instrúmental kaflar, söngvarar sem skiptast á. Ég keyri þetta í tæpan fjarka.

The album cover already hints at the kind of music we're in for — pretentiously but rather stylishly dressed, the moustachioed, hairy guys immediately suggest classic rock from the late 1960s. When you learn that the hairy guys are English, their sound is completely shaped in your head. In fact, the album isn't quite that simple. It begins with a decidedly un-British "southern" rock sound, then gradually transitions into psychedelia, all the while maintaining its acoustic core. This is where they stumbled, overcomplicating things. In some songs, you get the feeling that each member is trying to steal the show, trying to make their part the focal point; as a result, the ear doesn't know what to listen to. When you learn that half the songs were written by the guitarist and the other half by the keyboardist, the reasons for this discrepancy become clear. It's a decent record, a pleasure to listen to, but the musicians didn't realize their full potential.

Mediocre at best... Some tracks feel repetitive and empty, the instrumentals and rhythm really don't appeal to me either. Pretty boring.

This started badly but in the end I grew into it a bit…. ‘…40,000 headman’ was good

Pretty enjoyable

nie bede pisal drugi raz, bo cos sie nie chcialo zapisac

It’s from the 60’s and definitely sounds like it.

Pretty good. Might revisit eventually, but not right away.

Yawn… I hear good musicians playing well. But the songs don’t get to me. I heard someone say that Traffic is a greatest hits-band rather than an album-band. And I think I agree.

216/1089 a couple songs in and i was considering this being my first DNF (/finish at another time) not because it’s “bad” per se but i’m not particularly in the mood for this kind of 60s boomer rock it feels like the sort of music that could be utilised really nicely in a film/tv show at some point but that i don’t care for outside of that context Feelin’ Alright? and 40,000 Headsmen were the stand outs for me, the second half of the album was definitely the better part imo 24/100

Almost funky

Very good generic 70s music. I enjoyed it, but one listen is enough.

Easy listening

Fan of Shanghai noodle factory and obviously feeling alright is a classic. Not a fan of the rest

Straight down the middle, 60's-70's bluesy rock. It's pretty decent for what it is. A straight down the middle 3/5.

Not a memorable album for me. Not bad but nothing stood out songwriting wise.

that was a lovely listen. so much talent in one group, so much great work in such little time

This is a kaleidoscope full of shapes bending into one another, creating new and even more colorful images. While the colors remain the same, the infinite amount of new images sparks the imagination.

Get out your shakers and settle into a mid tempo groove. Baby.

Vanilla dad rock. Didnt leave much of an impression

3.5 stars. Folk rock with lead electric guitar doing lots of heavy lifting. Second half of the album wanes after some good energy in the first half. Standout is "Feelin' Alright?" (as made famous by Joe Cocker's cover the following year).

If there is a prototypical 'Dad / Boomer Rock' band, Traffic is it. I listen to the record, and find it entirely inoffensive, and a handful of tracks are quite good (personal favorite is "Medicated Goo."). But it is remarkably unmemorable. I don't know if it's the studied performances, the lack of electricity and passion, or the straight 'down the fairway' execution, but the record just doesn't leave an emotional mark. So I'm left wit the vague impression that Traffic is a perfectly fine classic rock band, but I have zero desire to ever pull out one of their albums.

Had no clue that the lead vocalist was Steve Winwood. His vocals on this record were really great but I suppose he hadn't really found his signature voicing by this young age? Some nice tracks on this album. Definitely sort of an oddity in a good way. I'd probably spin it up again.

Standard fare 60's rock. It'd do in a pinch.

Dit is een jam band rock achtig album. Ik vind er niet heeeeel veel aan. Word van tevoren beetje lekker gemaakt dat er hier meer Jazz en soul invloeden te vinden zijn, die hoor ik niet helemaal. Wat ik wel wat interessanter vind is het nummer Romain'. Dat heeft namelijk nogal wat niet westerse invloeden en maakt de muziek wat spannender. Maar is dat genoeg spanning om een uur lang leuk te blijven? De vraag stellen is hem eigenlijk ook al beantwoorden. Dit is een typisch album dat mensen die er destijds bij waren absoluut fantastisch vonden, maar als jouw eerste kennismaking met Traffic in het jaar 2026 is, dan is er gewoon niet zo heeeeel veel spannends meer aan. Jup, dit is een jaren 60 band. Behoorlijk psychedelische muziek, gewoon niet heel erg mijn ding. FAVO: Who knows what tomorrow may bring, Feelin Alright?

On some forgettable sitcom in the late 1980s a character said he was late because he was in Traffic longer than Steve Winwood. Today I finally heard Traffic. I get it now. And I guess it wasn't forgettable after all.

Hadn’t heard anything other than hole in my shoe by them so was expecting a bit more psychedelic. Was ok - bit dull

I ended up listening to this a couple times because I totally forgot about it after listening. On my second listen it did feel any more memorable but I liked the pace. My favorite would probably be “Pearly Queen” or “Feelin’ Alright”

Big fan of Traffic so 4.5 for me.

I listened to the first few tracks, just couldn’t get into it

Fun album

oh my god im so fucking bored

That guys hair is crazy

again not for me

There are some bright spots in this album, but I didn't care for it much as a whole. I feel like I have written dozens of reviews like this by now, but again I just don't connect with this music. Maybe the album is just too long. Favorite track: "Withering Tree"

Good rock/electric band from the 60’s and 70’s. Good sound. And songs.

Good

Of all the bands to get two albums on the 1001 Albums list, Traffic are definitely one of them. They're definitely a band worthy of some level recognition on a list like this, but they're also not really a band that has a strong enough legacy to warrant double dipping, you know? They're not the most worthy of two albums, but they're not the least worthy either. It helps that both of their albums on the list are good, though I have found that I prefer the later style of John Barleycorn Must Die over this self-titled second album of theirs. What can I say? I really like prog-rock and prog-rock adjacent albums. That doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the more folk-rock focused style of this album, but I have a preference and it's not for this album. This album's good in a different way from Barleycorn, as it has more of this classic 60s feel to it compared to the early 70s work. It might not be as ambitious, but it doesn't have to be. It's a pretty solid folk rock album and that's all it has to be. Everything here is done well, but I don't think any of it is perfect per se. The band all has talent, obviously. I don't think I need to tell you that Steve Winwood is talented. The singing works well enough. "Feelin' Alright?" is a fun song. Not every song is great, I'll admit. I mean, "Feelin' Alright?" is probably the album's best song and yet it's immediately followed by the album's worst song, "Vagabond Virgin." That one's gonna get a "yikes" from me. The album's also a little repetitive, but that's a minor issue. Uhh... yeah. I don't have much to say here. It's a serviceable 60s rock album. Not the best of its kind, but far from the worst either. I enjoyed it. High 3/5.

*1968. *Opening song (You Can All Join In) is a fun start. There are a few other upbeat songs that are a good time. *Some good stuff here, but 1 hour is too much Traffic for me. It took me several tries to not tune out the second half of this album. RATING - 6.5/10

Very Nice Album - definitely worth a listen

not my style this sucks

This was solid, if not a tad unspectacular. Traffic definitely had some talent, each of whom were early in their respective careers. This leans more folk, as opposed to the group's psychedelic sound in which they were founded on. It's just...alright. I am feeling alright, Traffic. Thanks for asking.

Never heard these guys before…some groovy-ass hippy shit!

Not a bad classic rock album! So many different sounds used in interesting ways, so there's always some variety and spice. However, the vocalists isn't the best and sometimes the music in ways that don't necessarily seem harmonic. "Cryin' To Be Heard" and "Medicated Goo" are awesome tracks! Don't know what playlist I'd put them in, though.

Fine

🥇who knows what tomorrow may bring 🥈medicated goo 🥉no time to live HM: you can all join in, feelin alright?, vagabond virgin, means to an end, am i what was or am i what i am

Decent; enjoying it alright so far, 3 stars nothing too stand out but like the 60s sound; some Wurlitzer falsetto trash in here; feelin alright sounds pretty classic; rounding up for flute

Nice bluesy rock, reminded me a bit of Jethro Thull’s sound at times. Not something I’d add to my collection, but good music.

Thought I would love it since I love Low Spark of High Heeled Boys but that's a different album.

Too sixtie sond for me

Dozed in and out, It's average rock.

It's okay - didn't realize Steve Winwood was in the band.

A long 57 minutes. Sounded like one song....

This was so close to getting a four but what the actual fuck was 'Vagabond Virgin'??

Kolejny nudny rock na granicy popu. Nie do końca wiem, jak to ocenić. Przed chwilą skończyłam słuchać, a już nie pamiętam żadnego utworu. 6/10

The goo might be medicated, but the vibes are all-natural, baby! "Barely 13, fresh to the scene, drinkin' more wine than anyone's seen" is actually Ann's working title for her autobiography, no correlation. Gypsy blood mixed with Hendrix-sounding guitars and an assortment of wind and strings make for a wonderful rock atmosphere. On paper - this should click with me, but sooths more than excites. A great soundtrack to getting high and concocting a low-stakes heist the back of a conversion van!

Feelin' alright, just alright. Diggin' the funky groove. Weird lyrics - the mention of "barely thirteen" and "medicated goo"... idk man, idk.

I had never heard of Traffic before today and don’t think I could have told you it was Steve Winwood’s band, even if you had given me a hundred guesses to do so (though I couldn’t unheard his influence after I learned that fact). Overall, I’d say Traffic’s self-titled album is largely unremarkable, though not an unpleasant listen by any means. There’s nothing as great as “While You See a Chance” on here, but I’d probably prefer listen to this over Arc of a Diver in its entirety. I’m probably going to revisit AOAD at some point since it was my first Book Album of this journey and since my rating system wasn’t entirely calibrated at that point. Winwood is an extremely talented songwriter when he needs to be – there have just been too many snoozers in his discography to call myself a true fan. Highlights: Pearly Queen, Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Feelin' Alright, Cryin' to Be Heard, Means to an End

Forgettable

Traffic is better than I would have given. them credit for. My appreciation for Jazz fusion and jazz/rock has grown over the course of the past year, thanks in part to a prog-loving co-worker (Thanks Jim), and exposure to artists through this list. I don't know how esential Traffic is, but I can tell you than it's perfectly enjoyable jazz-rock in the vein of Chicago. Nothing particularly special, but a snapshot of a particular sound from a particular time.

Underwhelming. Dare I say it, really boring. 60s British Blues isn't very interesting.

Wasn’t expecting much. But pleasantly surprised. Very west coast psychedelic folkish blues US rock from the other side of the Atlantic around Brum. Well it sounded alright so good. 3 Star

4.5? Considered a 5. I liked the slight psychedelic + rock vibe, mostly fun songs.

Probably more like 3.75, but I quite liked it. It’s rock, feels like something mom would listen to. A couple bops, a couple slightly odd ones but none that are too super weird

A couple of good songs. Some terrible songs.

Will have to go back and listen!

3.5

The Good: Not that kind of traffic… The Bad: Feels like we are stuck in it though… The Ugly: Realizing that the band is trafficing in it’s own name… First time listening to these “cats”. Not sure what to think about it, as each time I think they’ve started a good tune, that tune ends and a shitty one follows. However, Feelin’ Allright is just great, as I am very familiar with Joe Cocker’s version… Anyway, going to give them 3* for being cool cats, but they kinda deserve 2...

3.5

3.0

The self-titled album Traffic sounded to me just like any other rock album from that 60s era of music. Nothing in particular really shone out to me that would make this band unique amongst the many of this time, but they also weren't terrible. I enjoyed "Cryin' To Be Heard", "Means to an End", and "Shanghai Noodle Factory"

It's a fuckin' TRAFFIC JAM!!!!

This is like lifeless Led Zeppelin. I'd give it 2, but the songs aren't actually bad, just of a certain ilk of prog music that feels like the anti-anthem of the cultural transition from hippie let's get high and play at counter-culture to let me just take some chemicals and chill out.

A fairly bland bowl of porridge — I started to get excited about it circa tracks 1-3, but by the end the inevitable 70s mid theme of forgettable wankery gathered steam on side B. I shall not return.

Okay band okay album

This project is ferreting out so many little musical blind spots. Such as the entire Steve Winwood oeuvre.i gotta say, this album wormed its way in through my earholes and burrowed straight to my heart. Perhaps a bit on the long side, but these are some beautiful little melodies. Hard to say what direction this will grow in my esteem over time, but I’ll start it off at a very solid 4.

First and last time I’ll be listening to that

8 I like it!!! Listen again sometime I think!!

"Traffic" is the second studio album by English rock band Traffic. Wiki lists folk rock as the sole musical genre but also describes their music as a departure from the psychedelia of their debut album, displaying eclectic influences from blues to folk to jazz. The album was produced by Jimmy Miller. Bandmembers included Dave Mason (vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica, organ), Steve Winwood (vocals, organ, piano, guitars, piano), Jim Capaldi (drums, vocals, percussion) and Chris Wood (saxophones, flute, vocals, sleigh bells, Coke tin). The album reached #9 in the UK and #17 US Billboard Top LP's Chart and, critically, was well received. The album opens with "You Can All Join In." Acoustic guitar strumming and tenor sax fills. Mason on lead vocals. Laid back with a Grateful Dead vibe. Liberation, self-creation and inclusiveness. Winwood takes over lead vocals on "Pearly Queen." This song is harder with a bluesy guitar and driving rhythm. The song turns psychedelic with a flute. Psychedelic lyrics too as the narrator is pointed to a destiny by mystical queens and kings. The only single was "Feelin' Alright?" Mason with shaky vocals in a personal song about unrequited love and a recent break up. Piano, various percussion and a tenor sax solo. Mason said he tried to make his acoustic guitars sound like a sitar. The piano, a swirling organ and a soprano sax give "No Time to Live" a jazzy feel. Winwood with delicate and heartfelt vocals on the fleeting nature of life. The loudness builds with a dramatic ending. The album closes with the bluesy-country rock in "Means to an End." Layered vocals by Winwood. A bouncy piano and a country-tinged guitar. The one thing that stands out about this album is the variety: From jam band to bluesy pyschedelia to folksy rock to psychedelic rock to jazz to country blues. I think that probably stems from the three chief writers of Winwood, Mason and Capaldi. That also probably explains the departure of Dave Mason not too long after this album. That's unfortunate since the variety of styles is one of the strengths of this really good album. The lyrics range from pyschedelic tales to more personal songs. Overall., there's a lot here to like from the styles to the overall talent of musicianship and the strength of songs. A solid recommendation.

Dated vibes

Feels somewhat middle of the road, pleasant enough to listen to, some interesting elements, particularly in the closer, Shanghai Noodle Factory. The album on the whole feels like southern rock, I wouldn’t say they sound particularly English. My main issue with the album is that it is too long, however, a quick Wikipedia check tells me the only version on Apple Music contains a reissue with bonus tracks so maybe I didn’t need to listen to the last 5 tracks - some of them were good though.

Most of this sounds like just rote 60s folk rock, si I didn't love it. But I do think it got more interesting in the back half.

Kind of boring 60s rock stuff, some bangers like Pearly Queen but otherwise fairly boring

I had not heard of the band Traffic before. A wonderful album with great diversity across its 10 tracks. A mix of rock, folk, pop and jazz jamming. I’ll have to check out the bands other work because this was great.

An odd one. I've swung wildly between but liking the lovey dovey music to loving the guitar riffs. An odd one to place.

It's funny how many older rock and roll acts sound like country music. That's the first impression I got at the outset of listening to this one. I learned that they (well, Mason) wrote Feelin' Alright.

Solid Album. Different pace for me. Enjoyed the different pace though.

This was overall a good album. I liked the folk and jazz elements, as well as the psychedelic feel. The only thing was the lack of hooks on some of the songs.

Standard late 60's rock album. Nothing really stood out other than "Feeling alright." Steve Winwood's voice is velvet.

1/1001 I really enjoyed some tracks (Shangai Noodle Factory, Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Pearly Queen, Whatever the Hell They Were About With 40.000 Headman) but hated the opener so much I was getting ready to rate it 2/5. It's a 4, but I like my 60s groovier and trippier.

Keep honking, I'm listening to Traffic and scared of falling asleep

Generic Folk Rock that really has nothing to do with their masterpiece John Barleycorn Must Die.

1968 was one of the best years in musical history, and still, we have to go through this average Traffic via the challenge. The album vibe is great, but I can barely see any creative songwriting in it.

3 new favorites but honestly, it all felt samey. That being said, really like Winwood's voice. I do like how light the album feels with the wind instruments. 3/5

This made very little impression on me. A bit of psychedelia, a bit of dad rock. Competent. 2.5

Vanilla psychedelic rock. I’ve never been a real big Traffic fan and this album certainly doesn’t inspire me to dive further into their catalog. Steve Winwood would eventually find himself in to 80’s and much more in tune with his song writing and composition.

Funky classic ambient rock, with a few radio jams for good measure

A totally fine MOR classic rock album that I moderately enjoyed and most likely will not listen to again. The Winwood compositions are a little more interesting, I suppose.

The mediocre streak continues. Seems so generic 60s rock. Never rising to anything interesting at all. 2.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No: 39/159 (24%) Will I get? No

Dreamy, earthy, and quietly trippy in that late-60s countryside-psychedelia way. Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: This album feels loose and organic, like friends experimenting in a room rather than chasing hits. Folk, rock, and light psychedelia blend into something warm and reflective. It drifts, but in an intentional way. Favorite Track: Dear Mr. Fantasy. Soulful, wistful, and beautifully emotional.

I listened to this second-rate 60s album while reading a second-rate book that partly takes place in the 60s and while I still very much enjoy the way 60s recordings sound neither of these things is any good

Nothing terrible about it but it’s so 1960s in a way that I probably would have liked 800 albums ago, but don’t now. Probably at the time, a guy would hear Traffic at a formative time and become a Traffic guy. But hearing it now, in this context, it’s just another one of those albums.

It took a little to get going, but it got quite fun with a bluesy edge. I didn't like Cryin' To Be Heard very much, but I liked the harpiscord on it.

Boring, but doesn’t sound bad

Liked parts of this album. Some good psychedelic funky bluesy stuff going on, but it does have some duds. Overall a good album. 3.5/5 Might listen again

I’m a sucker for this genre and period but this was pretty bland

Very 60s vibe with rock/folk/psychedelic mixture. Good overall.

I Enjoy the group.

I'm learning through this process that I dont really rate Steve Winwood

You couldn't draw a more "1968 British rock" album cover if you tried. The four mismatched shirts and pants, the long not-quite-shaggy hair, the fuzzy resolution and glowy, post-psychedelia lighting. It's all there. A full, warm, folky sound from the opener, You Can All Join In. It suffers from a stereo mix (at least for me; my left ear is pretty debilitated). At least the scaffold of the song is in the right ear. It's darn catchy and Traffic's clearly having a ton of fun. Or putting on a convincing act, what with all the chuckles and "yeahs" and slightly suspect moans and "ka-cha-ka"s. The folky, almost American country sound continues with Pearly Queen, where the vocalist straight up plays an unconvincing cowboy. (I guess that explains the funny hat.) The instrumental panning is a little bonkers yet at the same time completely apropos for 1968. Almost Hendrix-esque. Even the guitar playing is pretty similar (but less good, obviously). Solid bass playing, too. There's a double bass somewhere in the mix, and a double bass is always a win. Another new vocalist in Don't Be Sad. This guy sounds like Christine McVie, but he probably isn't Christine McVie. It's joyful – maybe a little too much so – and the vocal harmonisation is laid on thick. Why isn't popular music this carefree nowadays? Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring is notable for its excellent guitar and bass lines, using just a couple of chords but bringing a ton of flavour. Also, the organ and vocals exude soul here. Feelin' Alright? is another two-chord number, but dang it, it's so feel-good. Like soul food for the temporal cortex. Vagabond Virgin generally lacks melodic hooks, but it has a dense, complex arrangement characterised by its flutes and tapped percussion. Good acoustic guitar playing. I don't know what genre this is supposed to be, but it's pretty good. Around this point in the album the tracks get less interesting simply because they sound like previous tracks. (Roamin' Thro' The Gloam' With) 40.000 Headman gets the award for clunkiest title of any 60s song (runner-up: that one Pink Floyd track from Ummagumma, you know the one). It also has similar standout instruments to Vagabond Virgin (mainly the percussion and acoustic guitar). It's still passable though. Cryin' To Be Heard has messy, unremarkable verses, but choruses that put most of the rest of the album to shame. Pure emotion in those vocal harmonies. You know what all of these tracks lack so far? Any element of sadness, contemplation, even so much as a ballad. I sometimes have the same problem with CCR, though interestingly I don't have as much of an issue when music is consistently negative or reflective. (Strange.) No Time To Love resolves this problem somewhat, but as ballads go, it's not the strongest. A nice piano part and some interesting chords are what carry the track. It should also be noted that many songs on the record lack harmonic variation, and that's a pretty big minus for an album competing with late-career Beatles, the Zombies, Hendrix, Zappa, and others. A 4, but a very strong 4. 4/5 Key tracks: You Can All Join In, Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Feelin' Alright

I like time after time but I didn’t really like anything else

Really wanted to give this one four stars -- who knew Steve Winwood could rock like this? -- but a lot of mediocrity on the back half, with songs that haven't aged well. The Shanghai Noodle Factory is not on my bucket list to visit.

Pretty average ‘60’s rock album

Another boring generic 60s rock album? Who'd have guessed 🙄

Fine 60s rock that we’ve heard 50 times so far.

Not quite up to John Barlycorn or Low Spark but still an excellent album. Close but not quite a 5. 4.5 if possible.

Fun and inventive classic rock. Unlike Bad Company this feels worthy of inclusion even if its not the greatest thing I've ever heard.

Not bad. Some famous songs.

Fun

It was fine. My rating 3.2

Meh. The album starts okay. Pretty solid retro-style rock tunes, with ‘Feelin’ Alright?’ acting as a standout track. But overall this feels relatively bland to me and I'm not sure I'll remember much of it. It feels harsh because there's not anything massively wrong with it, but it would be a push to say I liked anything about it either.

It occurs to me, my group probably didn't get the best introduction to Traffic. Or, what I really mean, the most accurate. For all intents and purposes, from everything I've read and seen, 'John Barleycorn Must Die' is essentially a Steve Winwood solo album that just so happens to feature the rest of the band. It's kind of like 'The Final Cut', which is basically Roger Waters's solo debut though credited to Pink Floyd. And either of those is better than what happened to Tony Iommi's 'Seventh Star', but I'm getting off track. The point is, this is the album that I imagine better reflects who Traffic was. Going by 'John Barleycorn', it seemed that Traffic really wanted to be Steely Dan. Y'know, a lot of soft jazz rock that's **really complex** if you dig into far enough but just comes off boring to most people. I find myself among them. It's not that I wouldn't go digging if I could — it's that I just can't. I don't have the ear for it. So it feels like this album should be more up my alley. Being led by Dave Mason instead of Winwood, it's a lot more 60's folk rock. There's some light jazz touches sprinkled in there, but this self-titled is clearly aiming for more of an accessible audience than 'John Barleycorne' was. And maybe it's my dumb "no music theory" brain talking, but dang it, I like it sometimes when you can just appreciate a song for what it is without having to dig too deep. That said, however, I'm not sure I like these songs terribly much. I don't **dislike** them, not at all, but generally these songs are just ... fine. Y'know? They're fine. Some of 'em are tryna be The Beatles, and they get more of the way there than they don't. Some of 'em are really light and have a lot of flute, and they kind of breezed past me, but I'm not gonna rag on 'em for that; they're good enough. And "Vagabond Virgin" is ... y'know, there's a lot of songs that sing about underage teen-age girls, and a lot of times I wanna give 'em the benefit that the narrator is also a teen-ager. Like, when Ringo sings "You're Sixteen" on his album, I doubt you're supposed to imagine 33 year-old Ringo creepin' and peepin' on a 16 year-old. "Vagabond Virgin", though — yeah, there's no getting around it. Especially when Dave seems to be singing about a 16 year-old sex worker? Like, Dave, my man, I saw 'Taxi Driver' recently, and lemme tell you... But that's the worst the album gets, really. On a musical level, it's like every other song here: jus' kinda fine. Like, I'unno, it all circles back to the question I asked a few reviews, where I wondered if I was spoiled for 60's music. Y'know, you grow up on a diet of The Beatles, how could these guys compare? But even aside from them, I just can't point to any particular element that grips me. So, yeah, while it's a better introduction to who Traffic were than 'John Barleycorn Must Die' was, it's not iike it makes me wanna go out and listen to more of their music. It's just ... fine. All around fine. I imagine if you're someone who just absolutely **loves** 60's rock outside of the big names you could get a kick and a half out of this. Me, though? I just can't dig it.

Don't remember much about the other Traffic album my group has gotten, but I dug this one regardless. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

I’m right at a 4. It’s been about 4 months since we got “John Barleycorn Must Die”, & that’s an album mostly written by Steve Winwood. A little indulgent perhaps, since it was sort of conceived as a solo record that got converted into a Traffic reunion out of a desire for a good backing band. This album is meant to represent more of the “real” Traffic, as this album includes their original guitarist / songwriter, Dave Mason. I don’t mind Dave Mason at all; his voice isn’t as technically sound as Steve Winwood’s, but it has a nice little shaky rasp that keeps his more folksy tracks grounded as a good contrast to the more bombastic stylings of Steve Winwood, and they both harmonize together well. The only real miss on the album, at least from a writing standpoint, is “Vagabond Virgin”, which is a Dave Mason-led track. I tried really hard to parse these lyrics as something *other* than weirdly creepy, and I just can’t really do it. “It’s just a game, love, you can learn how to play” & “You just wanted to scream out my name” as it relates to love & a 13-year-old who’s clearly being exploited for money & cash? I’m taking a stab and assuming it’s someone forced into call girl service against her own real desires / will, but why would you even write a song that touches on anything remotely pedophilic in nature without a clear cut condemnation? It’s not that compelling, since the “story” is shallow & doesn’t say anything of note. It sounds nice, with a really calm instrumental & some wood block percussion that underlines some good guitar work, but lyrically, it’s fucking suspect at best & awful at worst. Other than that miss (which is most of the reason I’m at a 4), there’s a few other little things that just made this feel less satisfying than it could’ve been; “You Can All Join In” feels a little bit TOO Beatles-y as an opener, in a way that feels… not really ‘cheap’, but too noticeably derivative. “Feelin’ Alright?” does that Beatles-y style better, and it doesn’t feel as derivative. “Don’t Be Sad” feels a little repetitive with the outro (and overall, repetition / looping lyrics is an issue throughout the whole thing). I think the soft/loud back & forth of “Cryin’ To Be Heard” is really nice, especially from an instrumental standpoint, but I can’t help but wonder if Steve Winwood would’ve gotten more of an emotional pull from the (pretty damn good) lyricism, since Dave Mason’s voice didn’t quite hit that mark for me. I still enjoyed it though – not as dazzling as “John Barleycorn Must Die”, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of energy. I think Dave Mason & Steve Winwood’s approaches to music are fair, and their tracks (save for Vagabond Virgin) do work well & flow pretty cohesively here, mostly due to an instrumental style that knows how to give both their space. Seriously, really good instrumentals across the board here. I *prefer* Steve Winwood’s style, but I can’t deny that “Feelin’ Alright?” is probably the best track here. There’s one single miss (although it’s a REALLY bad miss), & along with a pile of small, but notable little things that don’t align with my tastes, has me at a 4. It’s still a good 4, and maybe if “Vagabond Virgin” wasn’t here, I might be a 4.5 worth contemplating over, but for now, just a solid, recommended 4. The floor is a 3.

This wasn't particularly interesting for me but i can see its merit. It was very much of its time, without being revolutionary. It seems well done and i enjoyed the blues elements, but the vocal production is very dated.

Emerging around the same time as contemporaries Cream, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, Birmingham's Traffic also flirted with the psychedelic rock craze that was popular at the time, and their 1968 self-titled record is perhaps their most consistent collection of songs. 'Traffic' is essentially a collection of easy-going folk rock tunes with some psychedelic and jazz flourishes, and is perhaps noteworthy for being an early avenue for revered singer-songwriter Steve Winwood to showcase his astute musicianship. Winwood shares lead vocal duties with Dave Mason on this record, and both have the vocal chops required to adequately lead the band. With that said, I wouldn't say it's a remarkable record, it just happened to emerge at time where more iconic contemporaries were doing the rounds. The musicianship on this album is commendable, but I wouldn't say memorable, probably because Winwood and Mason don't project that same charisma of a Robert Plant or an Eric Clapton. It's an okay record, but I can see why they didn't really blow up, let's put it that way. Best songs: Pearly Queen, Don't Be Sad, Feelin' Alright

6/10

60s music playlist filler

This is a great rock record with no misses. Strong songwriting paired with good production. 8/10

oneonta

"Who knows what tomorrow will" bring ist ja voll der Banger :-D Generell n sehr cooles Album mit tollem 70er Sound

Ganz nett, aber auch nicht mehr.

Mid, Der Typ oben rechts: Because i cut the brakes, wildcard bitches, yeee haww

“Pearly Queen” and “40,000 Headmen” are probably my two favorite Traffic songs, such a unique blend of styles in both. Like almost every Traffic album, though, there are a few tracks that fall short. They’re one of those bands that still boggles my mind with the sheer diversity in the quality of their songs. It just not quite a 5 star album.

Enjoyed this record, never listened to it straight through before. Winwood has a great voice and the band merges their style into a very good rock record.

Pretty good 60s record.

I enjoyed this one a lot. It's standard 60s pop/rock, but I like 60s pop/rock

A decent late-60’s rock record. It’s a good balance of folk, blues, jazz and rock. It’s fun to listen to.

cool

Overall good-sounding without much for lasting impact, meets expectations for a '60s rock album

Chill

It has a certain charm. I like You Can All Join In and Feelin’ Alright. The album has a quirky jammy charm. It seems as though Winwood doesn’t stretch out his vocals here the way he can. One thing about these songs is that they definitely sound of their time, which makes it seem dated.

Doesn't stand out too much, but enough none touches to be better than average 60s rock.

По правде сказать, скучная музыка, но клавишные, духовые и ударные — хороши. Лучшая песня: Pearly Queen

This is a superb band which made unique and very well crafted music in the late 1960s. Stevie Winwood was still a teen when he made this album which is crazy. His voice was so mature for his age. Great album, 4.5 stars.

This album has some quite lovely arrangements accompanied by some (blue-eyed) soulful singing. It doesn't really excite me, nothing jumps right up at me like some other new albums I've discovered. Highlight Song/s: Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring

its critically acclaimed but rated mid by avg listeners. I don't see the critic opinion being right, album was a letdown

Great progressive rock.

Good band but didn’t interest me enough to revisit any time soon

4/5 for this bit of nostalgia.

It starts slow but quickly accelerates with many nostalgic and well written songs. Great throwback album to listen to when in a 60's mood.

Like an amalgamation of several bands, but doesn’t feel like they’re doing anything truly their own. I enjoy the little stabs of organ that took a lot of these songs up a notch for me. Decent, can imagine jamming along to this in the car on a road trip.

Favorite Track: Feelin Alright

Fun late sixties rock. Never heard of them but it was still pretty enjoyable. They hit all the right notes but maybe blend in a little too well with their contemporaries. Its one of those albums thats so familiar I'm certain I heard growing up but cant single out a particular song or anything. Pretty good for the most part.

Your uncles favorite rock album by a band “no one’s ever heard of”. A lot of this was enjoyable but this list is overloaded with dad rock from the 60s and 70s

With Steve winwood nice record

2/10 - another generic 60s/70s album which has somehow made the list

mostly 70s folk rock stuff but with some amazing tracks in there, cryin to be heard and no time to live foreshadow talk talk's post rock stuff

You’re fucking with me right??? Lmao

A pretty cool record. I haven’t heard it before but was pleasantly surprised.

Blues Rock inspirado no folk, Traffic é um bom album, para ouvir tomando uma cerveja gelada,

A sublime experience. I entered the ethersphere every time the Hammonds came in.

This must have been quite the bucket of everything back when it came out. It's really fun to listen to.

Love traffic but this is a good but unremarkable album by them

Ok

The Steve Winwood stuff is so much better it's not even particularly close. And I don't even dislike Dave Mason. He just sounds bad on a lot of these songs

Fun little album.

: ) old but nice

Starts off ok but tails off a bit. Not bad but not amazing

that was good and interesting

Flutes are cool tbf and it was definitely interesting. But in the end I thought it sounded like a Mighty Boosh parody of the 60s.

high 3

Quite fun, every song brought something different but I'm not gonna rush back to it

3.2 2x

Good ingredients put in the pot with poor measurements. The songs just seem weak and uninteresting. 2/ 5

I can't imagine wanting to listen to this album again

Good album.

Started quite good ("You Can All Join In", "Pearly Queen") but soon lost tension. worst: "Don't Be Sad"

Just the kind of 60's rock I like with a lot of folks and blues. I really love about half the songs. 4/5

Super fun and fresh

From the period in 1968 when psychedelic music became more rootsy. In Traffic’s hands it was pretty uninspiring as they frequently lapse into blues rock. Some nice keyboard flourishes, but the singer is a liability.

Sometimes you just need a good old rock album in your life.

bleh

Traffic was actually a pretty decent album. I saw the style of music that this album would consist of from a mile away due to things like the album art and the fact that i have heard the other album on this project by this group (John Barleycorn Must Die). I think this one is leagues better than that one though because everything on offer is significantly more interesting here. The melodies in particular for some songs really stuck out to me because they could be pretty darn catchy especially in songs like You Can All Join In. I'm not really sure i can say much else about this album so all I'll say is it's a pretty solid listen. Best Song: Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring Worst Song: Means To An End

7/10… Blues rock / 60s / *1968

Not bad. Surprised that it was as good as it was.

Really liked the first track. The rest was not bad.

not my vibe

hell yeah brother

decent!

better than I would have thought. Weird that I was just talking about steve winwood in the context of 80s pop that actually holds up surprisingly well, had no idea he was in a psychedelic rock/folk band in the 60s. 3.4.

Whatever Steve Winwood album we had before felt a lot different from this. This has me thinking about the Beatles and Cream and the whole psychedelic blues thing that was going on for a while there, and for the first 4 or 5 tracks I was really into it. After that, it starts to feel repetitive.

I kind of like other Traffic albums, but this one did nothing for me.

Nice

It wasn't really suitable for me.

Ihan ok soittoa ja bändin soundi. Vähän tasapaksu, mikään biisi ei erottautunut. Tuskin tulee kuunneltua uudestaan.

Pretty solid Little Rock and roll bluesy album. Back when Steve Winwood was good.

“Feeling’ Alright” transcends decades, and somehow feels relevant however many years later

Traffic. What does it mean? Is it the result, perfectly natural, of so many big metal chassis choking up the finite thoroughfare’s length? Merely the unavoidable consequence of a maximum flow being met; part and parcel of modern locomotion meeting yesterday’s much reduced need for travel corridor capacity? Or is it something deeper than that? Is there more to it than just being a bit temporarily stuck? I dunno. It’s a stupid question. The feeling of being bumper to bumper, the great long serpent of interminable stasis feasting on my frustration – is just that. It is what it is. Try go deeper into it, pointing fingers, apportioning blame if you like. But you won’t get anywhere. There’s a lesson in that. “Somebody’s crying to be heard” sounds a bit like a cover version of Toto’s “Africa” done in the style of My Bloody Valentine I contributed to a lockdown music project; the rest of it … far out. I guess it’s only fitting that Traffic invented the middle of the road.

A little dated, but still great

A few good songs and a few that were meh.

Bland rock and roll. It’s fine. Nothing stands out.

Solid album! Took me a while to get to the whole thing and I kept restarting it - as a result I got pretty attached to "You Can All Join In"! I felt like I could hear nuances of their future hits on this album.

Wasn’t really feeling this one.

Very good mix of classic rock with a dash of prog and folk. And Steve Winwood is crazy talented.

It’s good and all but not as good as their other albums.

This is tight

We like traffic, both in cars and the band. But not the band cars. Or banned cars, looking at you cybertruck.

At its best, it sounds a bit like one of those Fairport Convention songs where someone who isn't Sandy Denny insists on singing. It's better than I expected, but it still feels very standard for the time period.

First quarter I was like "yeah this is decent but then they really brought it home for the middle section.

70's rock?

Find I guess

2.5/5

Not as good as John Barleycorn Must Die, but still an entertaining time. Favorite songs were Pearly Queen and Feelin’ Alright.

How to curate a list of 1001 albums to listen to before you die: Take a bunch of random rock records from the 60s-70s that charted somewhere in the top 40 at some point and put em all together and call it a list. Oh and also put everything Morissey ever touched in for good measure. The album was fine but this list is abysmal at some points.

Some great psychedelic tracks here. I've never heard of these guys. Roaming and Gloaming, Feeling Alright. There's a lot of filler too. I'd mine this for playlist tracks, but not sure it stands super well as a complete album. 3/5

I’ve had a series of 60s and 70s albums in recent weeks that I would not usually listen to and haven’t added any songs to my playlists. This hasn’t changed that. It was on in the background and it didn’t capture my attention once.

Felt like a classic 70s banger, really liked it

Personal preference, nothing to do with the greatness of the album

4, has some bowie like vibes

Decently enjoyable album 3/5

I’m not trying to be terse, but I just can’t find much to say about this. It sounds like the 60s and is completely inoffensive and fine to listen to (mostly). Yeah. That’s about all I can think of to say.

Steve Winwood is probably one guy may be forgotten which is extremely unfortunate for anyone missing out on any work from him. Very well put together album with some quality knee slappers.

Album 932 of 1089 Traffic - Traffic (1968) Rating : 3.5 / 5 I really enjoyed their style - that cool blend of rock, jazz, and a bit of psychedelia that they seemed to pull off so naturally. The musicianship is tight, and the songs flow nicely without ever feeling forced. While I can’t say it quite crossed into “great” territory for me, it’s still a fine listen all the way through. There’s a laid-back groove to the whole thing that makes it easy to enjoy - never dull, never too heavy, just a solid mix of sound and mood. Tracks like “Feelin’ Alright” and “Pearly Queen” stood out, showing how the band could groove and jam without losing focus. A good album from a group that clearly had the chops and chemistry.