40. Music from the Big Pink - The Band 20 tracks. This seems to be a collection of tracks rather than an album. There is no flow. Some amazing tracks surrounded by some real fillers that detract from the whole. 3/5
What a rich and earthy album from such a mythic era. So much soul it aches. This is the personification of musical brotherhood to me. I think that most all of them share on the vocals is part of this feeling. It's funny cause many times I tend to shy away from rootsy music but this is the genuine article and I can't help but be drawn in to it. "The Weight" is one for the ages. Always loved "Chest Fever" too.
I've never been familiar with The Band but this really got me. Obviously 'The Weight' is a classic, but 'Tears of Rage' 'To Kingdom Come' and 'I Shall be Released' were also favorites for me. The whole album has an amazing feel, and it's wild to realize it was all recorded in just two weeks. || What really struck me with this album was the forging of rock, soul, and sorrowful old country western into an Americana Alloy. Its beautiful American wanderlust. I love it.
Very glad I had headphones for this album. Loved the way the songs built into The Weight. Especially on my second listen through. The story of both the album and The Band are amazing as well. The fact that both are considered so influential but take their name from the fact they were the backing band for Boy Dylan and then where they recorded most of these songs show the focus on the music rather than the marketability of the group.
Some nice jams but nothing more than easy listening to me. Their live video gig is class. Worth a watch
Loved how a couple songs were named for the idea, not an actual line or phrase in it. Took me back to the time when music was less succinct and more fluid. Sounded like it was fun to make. Easy enjoyable listening if you're in the mood for some older feels.
I knew The Weight going into this. I really enjoyed it. I don't really have a track by track breakdown or anything specific to call out. It just felt like a really complete record where all the songs were evenly matched, with The Weight being a standout. Very happy I listened to this.
I still remember my dorm neighbor bringing this album Bach from the electric fetus the first quarter of my freshmen year “John - check out this Floyd album I just found - do you know this one?” The album had been mistakenly put in the Pink Floyd bin. We immediately figured out it wasn’t Pink Floyd, but liked it immediately. Great album, and “The Weight” is still a favorite v
Very good. Wasn’t a fan of the first couple of tracks, but from the weight onwards brilliant
Loved every song. Beautiful instrumentation and vocals. Very pleasant record to listen to all around.
Classic album, warm and soulful and a delight to listen to. The Band makes it seem very effortless and laid back, like the album just emerged out of some jam session. This is part of their brilliance. This is a group of highly skilled musicians performing at their peak, clearly having a ball crafting music they love. 100 years from now people will still be drawn to these songs. Fave songs: Tears of Rage, The Weight, I Shall Be Released
An amazing debut from the little band that could These guys combination of folk and excellent vocals caused the whole late 60’s rock scene turn their head and look at what these guys were doing. Hell the album make Cream break up due to it being that damn good.
So far I only knew The Weight by The Band, a song I quite like. But it definitely didn't prepare me for what the album is like. It is lot more varied and experimental than I expected. Also, it was most likely absolutely groundbreaking at it's time. With one listen I couldn't quite wrap my head around all of it and wasn't sure if it's a 4 or a 5 for me. After a second spin, I'm rounding it up to a 5 from a solid 4.5 stars for the influence it must have had on classic favorites of mine, while still sounding good and interesting today. My favorite tracks were In A Station and the super trippy This Wheel's On Fire
This was a pleasant surprise. The album starts out beautifully. You get a familiar surprise by the song the weight. But that song just adds to the album. This album is beautiful and is now added to albums I need on vinyl.
I love this album so much. I had this vinyl for so long and it broke in my move from UT to CA and broke my heart. Tears of Rage and The Weight are two of my favorite comfort songs. I can’t say anything about this album except to say it is sacred and lovely and you should listen to it often.
The Great American Album. Name a better fit for that title. You can't. Best track: The Weight
Sounded like a group of friends jamming in the basement (because that's literally what it was). Thoroughly enjoyed it, musically & lyrically. Added.
Really good album. Good tunes all around, love the use of vocals throughout. Would like to have this album by a camp fire
This album is responsible for much of the trend towards roots rock and Americana beginning in the 1970s and as such its influence can be felt in contemporary music as well. To top it off, this album contains a couple of songs that were co-written with Bob Dylan thus lending some additional folk credence to what is already a genre defining album.
This is a great classic rock album that doesn't get enough love. I definitely need to revisit this and add some tracks to my playlist
Love it. I knew I liked The Band but been a while since I'd had a listen to them, never mind a full album. Very happy this popped up.
Some absolutely classic stuff from one of the all time great bands. I still like their second one better but what a debut.
Loved this! Listened to it twice over. Who can listen to ‘ The Weight’ and not spontaneously start singing along?
J'ai toujours aimé The Band.. J'ai découvert ce band au départ dans cette liste il y a longtemps et j'ai toujours adoré Music from Big Pink. Un vrai classique qui ne se démode pas et qui vaut vraiment l'écoute. 5
Loved this shit. Hit right where I wanted with a great folk-rock album. Favorite songs Tears of Rage and The Weight is a classic. I will definitely be re-listening to the album. Nothing that complex, just an enjoyable listening experience. 7/8. FROM HERE ON OUT ALBUMS WILL BE RATED HARSHER ON THE 5 POINT SCALE BASED ON HOW THEY RATE AS AN ALBUM SOMEONE NEEDS TO LISTEN TO BEFORE THEY DIE.
A lot of really familiar psychedelic, hippy cuts here Highlights: In a Station, The Weight Lowlights: Tears of Rage
I mean this album has, "The Weight," on it, so you know its a classic already. Levon and the boys in The Band always have those comforting harmonies and country flavor that a man of southern Illinois heritage is bound to love. I could also hear a lot modern artist that I like now in their music. I was hearing a lot of Grateful Dead in this record too, so I feel like even their contemporaries were inspired by The Band. My other standout was the ballad "Long Black Veil," a fantastically somber lovers lament. "I Shall Be Released," also struck a chord with me.
Really liked it! Very jammy, fun, and I liked how many people it seemed were involved. Many songs sounded like people just walked in, grabbed an instrument, and joined the fun
I was surprised I didn't like this more. I guess I'm comparing it to The Last Waltz. At least I now know The Weight is the name of the song about Fanny. I can now stop going through life thinking it was about Annie or Brandy. I also now know that the Nazareth reference in The Weight is to the US town where Martin guitars are made. I'm rounding up to 4 since the brothers are Canadians and Martin guitars are the shit.
Pretty good. A couple gems, a lot of solid music. Why do they sound southern, they’re not doing country music, is it like rocked up bluegrass? They relegate Levon Helm’s voice to the background too often. Lots of fun keyboard and guitar sounds. Not perfect though. Is the Band a Greatest hits band?
The band were already clearly very accomplished musicians before releasing their debut album, but here they really established themselves as a a proper a proper band/songwriters in their own right. At time is fells like their just having fun, jamming and playing about with different instruments and vocal styles, but also some incredible songs on here such as the weight. A great album.
Excellent album. The weight is a classic and makes the album automatically a 3/5. The cohesiveness of the album makes it great. Not really any songs worth skipping it’s an easy listen and flows nicely. 7.8/10
- sad this is the first time I've heard it - wikipedia calls it the father of americana. I can believe it. - real variety
JUNE 4TH & 5TH, 2021 1.TEARS OF RAGE- Great bluesy, slow 60's ballad. 2.TO KINGDOM COME- A bit more upbeat than the last track. The R-&-B influence of the music is beginning to shine through. 3.IN A STATION- Yet another great track emblematic of the era, the same kind of vibe as "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum and "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells. Cool, unique instrumental accompanient. 4.CALEDONIA MISSION- This album keeps on getting better and better! Great piano work on this mid-tempo track. 5.THE WEIGHT- One of my favorite tracks on this album. Nothin' but bittersweet, yet good vibes from this folksy, soulful, vaguely-countryish track. 6.WE CAN TALK- Gotta love that organ. 'Nuff said. 7.LONG BLACK VEIL- Slower, bluesy, not too bad. 8.CHEST FEVER- KILLER OPENING! Sounds a tad "heavier" than the other songs (with those drums and psychedelic-ish organ and all). Perhaps my other favorite song on this album. 9.LONESOME SUZIE- Slow, melancholy type of song. I definitely don't dislike it though. ⭐10.THIS WHEEL'S ON FIRE- Definitely the most "far-out" song on the album. Pretty darn cool with a different vibe, and the third of my three equally favorite album tracks. 11.I SHALL BE RELEASED- Strong closing track to a very good album. 》》The VERDICT: Great album that should be listened to by anyone interested in C.C.R, Bob Seger, Neil Young and of course, Bob Dylan, along with late-Sixties music (and the era as a whole). Would definitely add it to the vinyl collection and listen to it again (and might enjoy it more the second time). ◇ RATING: 4.25/5
Excellent album. The weight is a classic and makes the album automatically a 3/5. The cohesiveness of the album makes it great. Not really any songs worth skipping it’s an easy listen and flows nicely. 7.8/10 Re-Populated Album.
really great album, my favorite songs are Tears of Rage and Lonesome Suzie. such beautiful instrumentals and lyrics, with a really fun album cover, this is such a cool album. I’m glad I heard this. i’ll give it an 8/10 for how much I enjoyed it, i’m not a huge country fan. The Weight had a nice chorus with the piano and all but i didn’t really like those verses, i mean they were okay, just not really my style. overall, the album is groovy as fuck and i’ll definitely listen to their other albums, and i’ll watch the documentary that Scorsese directed
Un disc que trobo que viu més del seu so, genuí i descarnat, que de les seves cançons. Per mi és la fita inaugural de tot el génere d'americana i brou de cultiu de centenars, milers de bandes que haurien de venir en el futur. A més, és clar, 'The Weight', 'I Shall Be Released', 'Tears of Rage'...
Another cracker of an album. The Weight is in my top 10 songs of all time. There are some real flashes of brilliance on here and I could easily sit back and listen to this any time.
This is bunches better than the self-titled one also on this list. Tears of Rage is very, very good. I looked it up and am reminded of a recurring observation: Bob Dylan should write songs and other people should record them. Recipe for greatness.
4.2 - "Lonesome Suzie" exhibits some of the strange alchemy on this record - the unique blend of different genres (country, rock, soul...), the ambitious vocal performances by non-singers who manage to carry some complex melodies while conveying raw emotion, the free and easy instrumentals by seasoned studio professionals. For me, what really sets this album apart and makes it worth revisiting, are the lyrics. There seem to be loads of biblical references that mostly float well above my head.
This album succeeded because the band consisted of five exceptional musicians. It boasted perhaps the best rhythm section of the era, powerful, solemn, exuberant and concise, one of the best ever. (7/10) FT: I Shall Be Released, The Weight
Bob Dylan soul with credence clearwater revival vibes. Nice Jam session-esque, deep lyrics.
Great album. I know the Band for their big hits, one of which is on here. They're a great folksy-rock band, with a lot of heart in their songs and playing. Nothing too fancy or remarkable about them frankly, but they're just very solid. I know there's some Bob Dylan involvement with this group but not sure how it manifests in the music. Regardless, I really enjoyed this and I wouldn't mind getting another from them. Favorite tracks: The Weight, Long Black Veil, We Can Talk, Chest Fever, I Shall Be Released. Album art: This is a cool one, and I've seen it a number of times over the years. Speaking of Bob Dylan's involvement, apparently he painted this one. Now that's some cool lore. 4/5
Good melodies and comp Interesting instrumentation "Tears of Rage" has unexpected modulations and chord progressions "In a Station" has a quite memorable refrain
A lot of really familiar psychedelic, hippy cuts here Highlights: In a Station, The Weight Lowlights: Tears of Rage
Having only heard the weight previously the rest of the album was something of a surprise. Good songs and fine musicianship.
Hard to believe this album came out the year I was born. Classic rock goodness. The Weight...what can I say.
I don't think I ever heard this in its entirety and find it less compelling that the second album. There are some familiar tunes and a couple others that are notable. Can't give this a 5.
The Band shows that they can step out of Bob Dylan's shadow and still be great. Man how I wish these guys could've kept it together to continue to put out great music, but we had them for how long we needed to have them and Music From Big Pink perfectly illustrates the collision that rock, folk, country and blues would happen in the Woodstock, NY scene. 4/5
This was fine. I think I expected more, so they seemed like an Eagles-lite but without the pizazz.
Getting hard to find different descriptions for albums that seem run of the mill. I seem to be giving out lots of 3s. So... this album is easy listening. Nothing 'bad' but few memorable tracks. 'The Weight' is probably the most well known track.
Some good classic rock--pretty ahead of its time! Some of these old albums just don't have enough flair to keep my attention, but the first few songs on this one are timeless.
Doesn't do a ton for me, but not bad. Some of the extra songs that weren't on the main release are kinda better, I like "Yazoo Street Scandal" but it's not on the Spotify default album.
The Band is ok, they don't excite me very much. I enjoyed "Caledonia Mission." "The Weight" is iconic but I have heard it so many times and I don't like getting it stuck in my head.
Solid rustic country folk rock... was hoping there were more standouts. Tears of rage and the weight were strong... interesting lyrics on long black veil. Enjoyable.
Es como una especie R&B, blues, algo de folk. Es un álbum redondo que tiene una energía muy buena en la mayor parte de las canciones
Vi hace muchos años la película del concierto de despedida de The Band. La portada es de Bob Dylan que lo dio todo ^__^. Y solo decir que está la canción The Weight, así que no hace falta nada más.
Definitely a band from the 60's Not my style but I'm sure it's a classic that others enjoy.
Interesting trivia... apart from Levon Helm, all members of the Band were Canadian, most notably Robbie Robertson. The Weight is greight, and the organ intro to Chest Fever is pretty epic.
Amazing this band of mostly Canadians could put out such an album of Americana, like CCR from SF playing bayou music. The sound is very intimate, though the production is a bit muddy for me - their release the following year is much more crisp. Roger Waters says "the second most influential album after Sgt Peppers". I'm sure I'll be a better judge after multiple listens or at least after I listen to the Basement Tapes. I don't mean to be unpatriotic but I think Levon Helm could do more singing.
This album was really cool! I liked the mix of sounds and styles, and I do think it's funny that their name is "The Band"
A handfull of super talented Canadians and Dylan move to the NY countryside, live in a big house together, and jam - morning, noon, and night - until they dial in this unique, haunting, soulful country folk style. They trade off vocals. It sounds like they recorded each track together live. It's beautfiul. It's boring. It's new. It's nostalgic. The organ is so good. Warbling Manuel and Danko are heartbreaking. It's considered a landmark album. For AER it's a real good one. B+
The entire album is good and blending genres seamlessly throughout which keeps it from becoming boring. Chest Fever was my favorite song. My only problem was it felt a little slow to me at times and that tended to make certain songs drag a bit as an album
Liked the start and first few songs. Bluesy stuff was good but didn’t enjoy theirs country sounding parts.
Enjoyable throughout - didn’t feel anything touched the weight which is a track I love from Easy Rider - not sure I would go back or explore more but really good
Lovely stuff, nice start to the week but bar a couple of standout tracks I'll not revisit. Better than Dylan.
weeeh la country bof en vrai le single de l'album est très bien, je crois l'avoir déjà entendu qq part
Good stuff. Straight forward Canadian blues is the best way I can think of putting it right now. Mellow and enjoyable. Doesn't like blow my skirt up but will def listen again when in the mood.
"The Weight" is actually a song that I always thought was called "Take a Load Off, Fanny". LOL!
I enjoyed this album a lot. I feel like if I would listen to this a couple of more times than just once I would definitely give it a higher score. For now a 3 or mabye 3.5 / 5 will do.
Listened to the first half in the car. The second half on decent headphones. It's a ripper album I might've unappreciated without the cans.
Interesting contrast to listen to this right after Jeff Beck. Where that one felt more like just good raw rock n roll, this one seemed more "look how 60s were are". I dunno if that makes sense.
'The Weight' is a massive classic tune and means the album deserves at least a 3 just based on this. Not my kinda stuff though for the most part, I can appreciate its good but doesn't excite me that much, it's just chilled American country-ish rock. 3/5
тот самый альбом, из-за которого я решил ещё две недели не трогать список... Ну ладно, в этот раз не так плохо. Сначала даже заинтересовало, видимо определенный музыкальный голод последнего времени сказался. Но очень быстро наскучило. По сути мало чем отличается от их одноименника, даже наверное немного более ватный на слух. Но хейта не вызвало, так что троечку, наверное и оставлю. Первая песня всё-таки неплоха при всей своей тягучести. 5/10
It must have been quite a blast being a music-loving Boomer. Having all these iconic albums coming along and changing the world of music when you were in your 20s. I knew two songs on this album - "The Weight" (which I did not know had that title!) and the Ad Fab theme song. The rest of the album was fine, but it didn't grab me as much as I felt it was. Again, this seems like an album included for its role in music history - and that's not bad, but decades on it feels more like a lesson in a History of Popular Music 101 class than a music experience in its own right.
Beside the big hit of the weight, no very inspiring album. Nice for in the background.
Lots of great memories! How do I know so many songs? So glad I listened. But won't listen again by choice.
Absolutely Fabulous. Undertones of Hendrix in the vocals at times and at others it is the bayou piano that hits. This is one easy listening and very influential album.
I liked this one quite a bit more than their self-titled album. It's still very folky (which I don't like) but it's got a bit more Country/Western to it (which I do like). I think the highlight of the album is "The Weight", and the rest is kind of a "you'll like it if you like folk rock" sort of deal.
In football terms: the musical equivalent of James Milner. Competent, dependable and workmanlike, but not very creative, innovative or all that interesting. The album is fine and generally enjoyable, but the fact that out of all of language they chose to call their group 'The Band' probably says all you need to know about the levels of imagination that are apparent here. 2.5/5.
I took turns in being mildly diverted by the country / blues blend to being completely switched off.
As "Tears of Rage"'s guitar crows into life and the layers of organ come washing in, the sun goes down on psychedelia and comes up again on roots rock. Dylan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Byrds, Clapton and more were heading in the same "back-to-basics" direction around the same time as "Music From Big Pink" in 1968, but this album is heralded as leading the way, a landmark influence on many who followed. In the past, I've thought of The Band as overrated. Their brand of Americana/folk/country/whatever-you-want-to-call-it doesn't do much for me: wispy generalised lyrics, staid and inoffensive music, with the Dylan connection being surely one of the key things going for them. Hearing this album in full helped me to appreciate them more than I have in the past, but they still didn't completely win me over. The first few tracks didn't change my mind: although "Tears of Rage" set a melancholic, late-night tone effectively, "In a Station" (complete with irritating, distracting keyboard line) and "Caledonia Mission" were both lightweight and didn't feel like anything special. Then came the clear standout and enduring classic, "The Weight" - immediate chorus, simple melody and accompaniment, beautiful touches from harmony vocals and flourishes of piano. It deserves to be an anthem for the downtrodden (though just who the lyrics are addressing is anybody's guess). After the album reaches this apex, things do continue at a higher standard. The jaunty "We Can Talk" is as uptempo as things get here, and "Chest Fever" sports a badass organ riff and an irresistible soul vocal: it's a song to strut down a runway to with your shirt off and your hair on fire. While all the members of the band share vocal duties across the album, Manuel is given the lion's share and it's no surprise: soulful, gritty, he's a powerhouse and the standout performer. However, alternating vocalists is still a great way to guarantee variety of sound and add some separate flavours and it pays off here. By comparison with the highlights mentioned above, "Long Black Veil" is a straightforward reading of a country standard, and elsewhere things get a little bogged down in the balladry of "Lonesome Suzie." Even "I Shall Be Released", while lending a tender and stirring touch to a fairly bog-standard Dylan track, comes after a long string of ballads and felt a little fatigued the first couple of times I heard it. All that said, I'm hooked enough to say I'm slowly changing my mind on The Band... will be giving it more listens and no doubt it will improve over time. Until the first few tracks win me over, it's staying at a firm 3* and just missing out on a 4.
Feel like I have to rate this highly purely because of the name of The Band lol. But honestly, considering how old this album is and how it's not a genre I'd usually find myself listening to, I enjoyed it, it was nice.
The Band is somewhat legendary, and a nice bunch of true craftsmen. Unfortunately that doesn't mitigate the fact that, for me, personally, there's very little in their music that resonates or sticks with me. The Weight being one of the rare exceptions, and a few other tracks that I honestly enjoy more when covered by other artists. Even so, this one is steady listening from start to finish. A true three star experience.
The best Band songs are flipping amazing, but I find my mind wanders whilst listening to a full album. The second half dragged a bit. Particularly Lonesome Suzie and I Shall Be Released
I've heard big things about The Band but only ever knew The Weight (which is worth a couple of stars on its own). I didn't realise they wrote This Wheel's On Fire too, though I think I prefer the Julie Driscoll version. Also, I listened to In A Station while in a station, which I think is commitment to the art. The musicianship is strong and it's got a rich sound, very evocative of the late 60s. But it doesn't have enough about it to lift it above the 3.5 masses for me.
Really pleasant album with a couple of tuuuuunes. Would love to get his on vinyl and really take it in properly
Like with the follow-up release, this isn't always my cup of tea, yet there's still much to like here. I should note that I preferred how this is mixed on the 2018 remix, as it gives the music a much needed sense of proper spacing of the intruments. Favorites: "Tears Of Rage", "In A Station", "The Weight"
Rennur ágætlega og þarna er eitt frábært lag. Söngurinn er ekki að gera mikið fyrir mig, en sleppur fyrir horn. Myndi hlusta aftur en er enginn sérstakur aðdáandi.
Easy listening, especially when you've probably had too much cocodamol. The Weight is a classic.
This album is a critics favourite and was very popular amongst musicians in the late sixties due to the no frills approach and tight musicianship. I personally find it just ok as it tends to meander and the vocals are a bit winey. There are several really strong tracks notably the classic "The Weight".
Interesting album! Wasn't expecting much but when The Weight came on, I realized I've heard a few of these songs over my life. Nothing knocked out of the park but much more enjoyable than many of the others this week!
- Por que parece trilha sonora do CSI? - O single é bom - O cover de Long Black Veil ficou bom
Za hando. Muy bueno, pero lo siento algo lento y repetitivo. No leí las letras, así que ahí no critico
I could copy/paste my review from The Band (album). Overall feeling of disappointment. I thought I would like it more. The Band (band) covers a couple songs I like, Long Black Veil and I Shall Be Released, and I don’t like them. The falsetto on ISBR is off putting. Overall the sound is just not exciting enough. The Weight is an amazing song though.
More lies in the titles of albums and the names of bands. Well, not the names of bands in this one. The Band is actually a band. And, I hadn't known before, not just any band, but Bob Dylan's backing band, striking out on their own. But to the lies - this album was not recorded in the house nicknamed "Big Pink." Which makes me question everything. Did he really even pull into Nazareth, let alone do so feeling half past dead? "The Weight" remains an absolute classic, and there are some other pretty good songs on "Big Pink," but nothing else truly stands out. Some decent folk rock, but it doesn't have me clamoring for more.
Like a pastel Stars and Stripes this is very American and unchallenging. The smooth and easy sound that launched a thousand smooth and easy clones. Zzzzzzzzzz.....
The weight is iconic and easily recognizable. I love getting these albums, wondering why they are listed an bam.
A solid but overall forgettable album from The Band. I can definitely see why some people might love this one as the performances all around are very good and express a lot of emotion. I enjoyed listening to it for sure, but it clearly didn't fully resonate with me as it turned into nothing more than background music by the end of it. I thought a lot of the tracks felt a bit like filler and didn't flow into each other to create a cohesive listen. 'The Weight' is no doubt a classic track, and I thought 'Long Black Veil' was also really good; other than those two, nothing really stood out lyrically or sonically. I can't deny that it is good music, but I don't really see a reason to come back to this one. 3/5.
I like The Weight. But could get into the rest of this album. Kind of sad boy folk music. The Band is one I always thought I should be into but could never crack. I say this as a Canadian and from Peterborough, where Ronnie Hawkins who was a previous leader of the band is from. I even remember him doing radio commercials in the early 90s for local businesses. Their other album has some songs I like but this I could not get in the same wavelength.
This album didn't prove to be a favorite, but let me just start by saying damn if The Weight isn't one of the best and most influential folk rock songs of all time. Chest Fever was another new-to-me standout. I Shall Be Released was a beautiful, memorable, hymn-like album closer, as well. Even though I immediately called this out as 'not a favorite', there is still something about this album. You can sense the band's togetherness and the organic nature of their playing and songwriting. The tracks put the musicians' playing talent front and center. They wanted this album to sound the same to the listener as when they were recording it in the basement of Big Pink, and they absolutely achieved that. It feels incredibly intimate. The album didn't seem cohesive in so much as that each song seemed very individually conceptualized and completed, rather than intended as part of a greater work, but given the band's history and the overall vibe they were going for, this jam session style compilation of songs seems to work. This debut album from The Band is a great entry on the project, as it truly exemplifies the chances, opportunities, and happenstances that can pay off in the music world, take you out of the shadows of someone famous, and leave a lasting legacy.
The Weight is far and away the best song on the album (conveniently it’s also this band’s most popular song) the rest of the album was kind of meh though so I’m giving it a 3 since I can’t give a 3.5.
Listened to on 5/16/22 2.5/5 Favorite song: The Weight This album was easy to listen to and nothing crazy special stood out to me - great background music
Same reaction as the last The Band album I listened to. It's fine. I understand why people like this, but this is not for me. The Weight is a great song, but it sags a bit when placed in the middle of a bunch of songs that sound a lot like it, but aren't as good. This is like the mopey version of the Grateful Dead, and I don't really care for the normal version of the Grateful Dead. There were times when I felt like I was starting to enjoy this album, but kept finding ways to wear out its welcome. At 55 minutes in I was starting to do the math in my head for how long it would take to finish. Still 16 goddamn minutes left. 2/5
Noope, not for me. Somewhere between 1 and 2 stars. Since I don't actively dislike it and am feeling chipper this morning, I'm leaning toward 2.
don't feel any emotion from the music personally, feels like elevator music rather than energetic
It’s fine. The Weight is the star, but the rest of the album is pure 60’s hippie rock. Can’t hate or love it.
Lots of rock organ, pretty peak 60s ballad rock, songs named after women, dual dude vocals
The Weight is a classic. Lots of elements that Poi Dog uses. Long Distance Operator sounds like it was written to satisfy contractual obligations.
This nearly hit for me, but not quite. I'd give another listen, but not now. Favorite song: tears of rage
2 - not for me but doesn't hurt my ears. 3 - decent, could stick on again. based on this rating a 2 Chest Fever is a standout but the rest is grand
Если альбом вынуждает на недели забыть про 1001, оставляя негативные эмоции – это, вероятно, не самый хороший альбом, ведь так? Думаю, если что-то триггерит музыкальную апатию, доходящую до импотенции – к этому не стоит относиться особо терпимо, снисходительно. В общем, это – ужасно скучный, устаревший альбом. Да, часть подобных альбомов имеют некоторую созидательную роль в истории. Этот же альбом, полагаю, скорее деструктивную роль сыграл: согласно Википедии, услышав альбом, Эрик Клептон покинул Cream. Ёбаный в рот, в какой-нибудь Sunshine of Your Love больше жизни, таланта и актуальности, чем во всём творчестве The Band, с которым я знаком. Всё же если попытаться говорить хоть как-то объективно, альбом не так ужасен сам по себе. Отдельные мотивы, хуки приятно ложатся на слух: напевы в In A Station, целиком The Weight. Но как часть 1001, как условная часть мирового музыкального наследия альбом не выдерживает критики.
Eh. "The Weight" was the only song I recognized, and every other song sounded a lot like it. Pass.
Look out! Will everyone PLEASE stop standing in the middle of the road, it's really not safe. What's that? No, I don't care that you used to be Bob Dylan's backing band, this constant flow of traffic over all lanes at once is a disaster. You British bands, just keep to the left and everyone else stay to the right and that way we'll have no troubles.
The film Easy Rider is 1 hour 35 mins and it's great. It captures the late 60's and the Dirty Fuckin' Hippies in a way no other film could. Easy Rider is about two DFH's on motorcycles 'out to find America' after a big score. The tales about Hopper and Fonda gettin' all fucked-up, just rolling film to capture time are legend. A majority of the film was improv and edited together. It's a must-see, even for today. 'The Weight', a song from this album, was used in the film. The album, 'Music from Big Pink' fails to convey the same feeling of relaxed freedom. It does seem improved, but the result seems haphazard, directionless and foggy. If Easy Rider is like the acid trip, then this album is like the following morning. Listening to this, I'm filled with feelings of constraint, dread, sadness and fear... Fear that it'll stay with me longer than 1hr 35mins.
Best Song: I Shall Be Released. Sounds almost like the Bee-Gees here. Nice falsettos backed by a good military-style snare. Worst Song: In A Station. Ponderously slow and self-indulgent. Overall: Although not bad, I just wonder who gets excited about music like this? It's not particularly thoughtful or evocative, nor does it seem to have an ounce of passion. This album came out a year before Led Zeppelin 1. Given that context, I can't understand how this music persevered. Everything about them, down to the name, feels like a placeholder.
Pretty hard to say if I didn't like it because it's just almost the same country/folk 60's that flood this list so much or if I didn't like it because it sounds exactly like a B-side of Bob Dylan's band and nothing more, but I didn't like it so much.
It's pretty easy going music, nothing that blew me away. I do enjoy some of it, but I don't really care for music in this genre.
I didn't enjoy this album at all. Couldn't wait for it to be over. All the tracks seemed to be the same sound and very vanilla/boring.
Hard to believe this is from 1968. Not because it's ahead of its time... but because it sounds like where boomer music went to die after many decades of ossification. It's pleasant enough in the background, like the closing credit music to a passable family film. But good lord it's the most boring album I've heard for a long while. "The Weight" is a song I've heard previously, and that's easily the highlight to the album. In fact, it's the only track where anything interesting or compelling happens. The rest feels like tired old country-rock tropes played with muscle memory alone. Most of the lyrics have a slight "olde worlde" air with some cliches about the rambling outlaw figure. Zzzzzzzz. 1*
Very slow, boring to listen to. The fact this is labeled “rock” says volumes about the decade
Je connaissais seulement The Weight. Cette pièce est bien, mais je ne suis vraiment pas fan du style. J’ai fini l’album de peine et de misère.
Possibly just not in the mood but did not get on with this at all - disjointed and quirky in a bad way.
Nice. I'm semi-familiar, but it's nice to heqr the tracks I'm not familiar with. Classic American Rock. Talented musicians. I'll give it a 7.5 .
Not very interesting.