Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Some songs were a bit slow for me, others had a good vibe and told a story which I liked. It’s not my usual taste but it’s a nice listen 3 Stars 10th Of January
Not bad, not great - I really like the instrumentals in this one but did not like the lyrics in a lot of the songs. Good smokin on the back porch kind of music
While I respect the artistry for sure I just think sonically I don’t love their sound I find it abrasive in a way I don’t connect with
A lot of fun! not great, but good Best Song: The Weight Rating: 7/10 Stars: 4
This isn’t really my usual style but I’m appreciating it artistically. Very pleasant listen. The more upbeat songs are much more up my alley for sure. I also really like the vocals! Also didn’t realize beforehand that I knew The Weight, but I’ve definitely heard that one a lot. Favorites: To Kingdom Come, Chest Fever (holy shit the intro to this one)
I've been told The Band is good. I've been told they are great even. I don't get it. I've had both of their albums on the list and just don't get it. It's kinda boring and bland. I was told to give it another chance but I don't want to.
Some absolutely amazing original songs but sung atrociously. I've given it a 3 to acknowledge that its probably because im not American. Like when all the Americans heard The Streets and thought "wtf?!"
While it doesn't set itself apart too much from other folky 60s music, I did enjoy my listen and have saved some of the songs. It was nice and I don't have a lot more to say about it.
3/5 Solid 60's album, but I feel like it doesn't really set itself apart from other 60's bands. I wish the sound was a bit more original, but otherwise it's fine.
Best
I did not like this album at all. While I agree that "The Weight" is an essential song, especially if you are talking about essential songs from the 1960s, but as an essential album I disagree that it should even be on this list. The singing is all over the place and the guitarist clearly had moments of clarity but seemed to check out for a majority of the songs.
This one's a pretty nostalgic record for me as it was one of my dad's favorites and I remember listening a lot to it as a kid. Nostalgia aside I think it's just ok overall. The Weight is a classic, but the rest of the album doesn't do much to really keep me interested. Probably something to come back to, albeit infrequently. 3/5
Mostly didn't care for this. There's a few songs that are decent. It's funny to see how many more plays The Weight has over the others. It is like in the realm of 100x more listens. Chest Fever is a good song too. It was interesting to learn about their origin as Bob Dylan's backing band. I definitely didn't know that. 2.5/5
It's some acceptable folk style dad rock. The Weight is a fitting name as it pulls the majority of the noteworthy weight in this album and is probably the only reason it's on this list.
Big Pink = the house in Woodstock they rented. Album was a watershed moment in rock music as it was the turn from psychedelic rock back to basics, back to roots & songs from the American Songbook. Rebelling against rebellion. Country Rock. A little too boring and samesy for me personally.
Makes me feel like I’m sitting by a fire in the Smokey’s
Nope. Truly awful. Ok, ok, The Weight is a classic and tolerable but the rest made me wish I was listening to Neil Young instead (and I’ve endured root canals with more alacrity than listening Neil Young).
Very interesting mix of rock and jazz and blues? No song really stood out. Will need to listen again to fully form an opinion
I like the band so it was good and I liked a few of them a lot not really my vibe but nice
goede start maar ging steeds beetje downhill, eerste liedje was wel fave tho
Three stars, it was fine.
Maso
I really liked it
Okay... I love this genre. The vibes is so chill. Fave song: the weight
Not really my funk
Fine I guess but I'm not too fussed
Amazing album, lowkey a little surprised. Have heard The Heavy before. It’s lowkey PEAK.
Music From Big Pink is a remarkably assured debut from The Band, and one that immediately stands out for its breadth and confidence. The album blends country, rock, folk, blues, R&B and soul with an ease that feels completely natural rather than showy. There’s a sense that this band already knew exactly who they were from the outset. Reading up on the background only deepens the appreciation. I hadn’t realised quite how closely connected they were to Bob Dylan before this record, touring as his backing band and co-writing three of the songs here. His influence is unmistakable throughout, not just in the songwriting but in the album’s loose, rootsy feel and understated confidence. What really works for me is the variety. Music From Big Pink is an enjoyable, rewarding listen with several standout tracks, and it’s an album I can see myself returning to. It’s also made me keen to dig further into the band’s back catalogue, which feels like a strong endorsement for any debut. Favourite tracks: There are many excellent tracks. This Wheel’s on Fire is a standout, though I can’t help wondering if I slightly prefer the Absolutely Fabulous cover. To Kingdom Come, Long Black Veil and We Can Talk were also real highlights. Least favourite tracks: The album does start on a slightly dull note for me. Tears of Rage is a slog, and some of the slower songs elsewhere struggle to hold my attention. Album artwork: A beautiful cover, painted by Bob Dylan himself. It perfectly suits the feel of the record and adds to its timeless, rustic charm.
Meh
Great Americana Reaches 5 stars at times, but I couldn’t quite commit…
Shrugs. This is just kinda right smack dab in the middle. They're excellent musicians, no doubt about it. Their singing voices are hit & miss, like most of the songs. The Weight is fantastic, as well Chest Fever. Wheels on Fire starts out ok & gets better. Some songs I found to be too similar to each other or just plain dull. I found Black Veil Women to be quite creepy. Just good rather than great. Almost a perfect 3 star album, if there is such a thing.
I just can't get into this. I knew the song "The Weight", which is okay. It's a bit folky, a bit country, and it comes down on the wrong side of that divide for me. I find it hard to take their music seriously.
In the track Caledonia Mission I really like the piano riff but apart from that all quite boring to be fair
Great Album
enjoyed years of rage a lot, some lovely piano pieces throughout. reminded me of https://open.spotify.com/album/0ky5kdvfPxSmSpj03hpSAE?si=T5z-hplxQxmFHRMeaO8o5Q a lot (coincidentally named déjà vu)
I could listen to this on repeat until I die.
Beautiful renditions. Big variations in songs, altough that folksy feeling is always there
Hard to argue with. The songs are good and performed with conviction. The sound they came up with here was a huge influence on many many future bands. The recording is simple and feels alive. Good stuff! Must-listen #275.
Most enjoyable songs ------------ * The Weight * Long Black Veil * I shall be released ------------ vocals ain't sharp enough for me
Yawn.
This was a super cool listen I liked it.
I had another album from The Band which I just hated, so I had low expectations coming into this record. But surprisingly, I liked this one much more. There's an enhanced musicality to this record, with more soul into it. That’s not to say that it is the most amazing album ever, because it is not. But at least this one was worth listening to and there are some cool songs on here - e.g. The Weight. An excellent record.
Decent folk rock. Horrible vocals. Maybe a band, but not the band.
This album is just about perfect. This is a "debut album" sort of like Ichiro Suzuki was a "rookie" in 2001. Technically accurate but context is necessary.
A rootsy album that pleased instrumentally throughout.
345/1089 - It's okay. Don't like the guys voice very much. Organ is cool sometimes, I liked Chest Fever. This has been a pretty weak week on the generator for me. Hopefully I get something more exciting like War or Violator soon.
pretty good but lowkey could not help yawning????
From my favorites
Not my favorite
Tolerable and old, I pay it no mind, you probably shouldn't either
Love - not new- but love.
Long black veil, The Weight and I Shall be Released highlights but I wouldn't seek out the other songs for a listen again.
The album is a multifaced cube of character. Simply put, I haven't heard such a good album in a while that effortlessly plays with different directions and genres. Manuel's soulful vocals add an incredible dimension to the songs, making them evergreen, while the harmonization of Robertson, Rick, and Helm achieves the ultimate goal of creating infectious pop numbers, which shows the level of synergy these guys had, even if they didn't quite got on when the mics were turned off. Instrumentally, each member contributes in their own way: Garth Hudson might be the best organ player I've heard, which makes the bulk of my enjoyment of this album, while Levon's simple drumming style contrasts with the experimentation of the other members (who add a little bit of everything, from funk, garage rock licks, RnB and gospel), playing the role of a monolith around which the others revolve and creating the foundation for the songs. Of course, lyrically, there are moments that touch upon some urban myths and American legends, but to a much lesser extent than what will be present on the next album. Mostly, the album resides in this intimate sphere, providing a brief glimpse into the atmosphere in which this album was created. Summarizing what is found here could be precisely reduced to one word: intimacy. With this unique album, The Band shows us a side of music that wasn't particularly prevalent then, especially not in the mainstream, with its themes of heartache, resilience, and the human experience. I'm extremely pleased that this album has been recognized as a significant musical success, as one of America's most important musical achievements, and as an album that stands strong even today.
Synes dette var veldig skuffende. The Weight er jo en tidløs banger, men bortsett fra den, var det egentlig bare Chest Fever som virkelig satt. Til å være en som hater alt som har med kirke å gjøre og står i fare for å komme på riksantikvarens speed dial-liste dersom det skulle forekomme en mistenkelig kirkebrann pga. ting jeg har sagt ila. livet, er jeg utrolig svak for electric organ. Med tanke på at Deep Purple ikke engang hadde gitt ut debutskiva si -- for ikke å snakke om In Rock som kom først to år senere -- var The Band strengt tatt det beste Deep Purple-type bandet på et punkt. Bare synd de foretrakk å spille inn trauste viser fremfor å være organ grinders!
Dette er vel brått det mest countryaktige albumet til The Band, og det var en stor innflytelse for både countryrockere og band i helt andre sjangre. Det var motstrøms da hippibevegelsen begynte å ligne hovedstrøms. Da alle skulle gjøre de mest spaca greiene, med lange låter og dilldall, tok The Band det helt ned. Jeg syns til og med det er modig å starte et album med en låt som "Tears of Rage". Den har ikke starterenergi, men akkurat her er det kanskje poenget? I The Band-katalogen har jeg holdt konsertalbumene høyest, og den selvtitulerte oppfølgeren har flest av favorittene mine. Men Music From Big Pink er virkelig et flott album. Jeg tror til og med plata kunne klart seg uten "The Weight", men det er selvfølgelig best at den er der. En av all time beste låter. Selv om The Band på dette tidspunktet var uløselig knyttet med Bob Dylan, så står de helt på egne ben. Joda, han har malt coveret og skrevet "This Wheel's On Fire" og "I Shall Be Released", og er medskribent på "Tears of Rage". Sånn sett hadde de mye å bevise, og de innfrir, og har en enorm selvtillit, spilleglede og kameratskap mens de gjør det. Jeg tror den eneste låta som ødelegger stemningen litt er "To Kingdom Come", som låter fjollete, men som er irriterende catchy også. Det kan også nevnes at jeg pleide å være med i Facebook-gruppen: The Band is called The Band because they are THE Band
LISTEN AGAIN j enjoyed this album
Soulful vocals with a lot of depth and emotion. Also liked the keyboard throughout the album with it really hitting in Chest Fever. Overall decent album but not for me. 4/10. Favorite Song: Chest Fever
a lot of bob dylan, wouldnt say this was rock. Felt very much country, not for me.
wow wow WOW like just WOW I'm so with you eric clapton I get you
Classic!
Difficult to rate, on the day this was set I listened to about half but I didn't have a chance to finish it, I hadn't been enjoying it that much then, but listening to it today I thought it was quite good. The first half of the album was more enjoyable than the second, I was quite confident I'd rate it a four but started to change my mind as it continued. I feel like I say every 60s group sounds like Beatles, I suppose they defined the era and did enough genre that it's easy to find some similarities, I definitely thought that was the case for Caledonia mission which was one of my favourites, sounded more late 60s Beatles. Some songs also reminded me of the rolling stones which is probably a similar situation. Debilitated a lot between 3 and 4, I've had to change quite a few ratings based on current feelings and to fit this where it needs to go it'll have to be a 4 despite the weaker second half. 73/100
Bordering on a 3. Feels very influential, like it has set foundations for a lot of the music I listen to today, even whilst not being particuarlly interesting itself. So many genres within just one album.
Good audio
Incredible album. Just short of getting a perfect 5/5 from me. If I could give 4.5/5, I would.
Yes! One of the recordings that kick started a generation.
If I could give this negative stars I would
Any album that has “The Weight” on it deserves at least 4 stars. What a masterpiece of a song, on an all around great album. Highlights: “The Weight” and “Long Black Veil”
Great Canadian band with one of the greatest songs of all time, the Weight.
pretty good! i never listen to the band but i liked it
At some point my wife and I were working our way down the 500 Rolling Stone albums. This one didn't speak to me then. I'm not a Dylan guy, not a folk guy. Well, now I'm a lot older, and I really dig it. First of all, a few parts (not many, but some) really fuckin' rock, especially "Chest Fever". Second, they're not great singers, any of them, but there is an earnestness there that really speaks to me (e.g., "Long Black Veil", "The Weight"). Third, "The Weight" is very deservedly part of the great American songbook. Fourth, these dudes can play. Better than Dylan. YEAH I SAID IT.
OK, a little reminiscent of the Beatles at times. I know one of the tracks of this album, but a bit slow for me
Was a bit underwhelming and a tad monotonous.
just not really exceptional
Album is pretty well constructed. I don't know that I'll come back to it, though. There was one of two nice songs and nothing I actively disliked.
It was good but not great. But 3 stars for AbFab theme song alone. 😀
We don't deserve The Band. They are the perfect sixty's representation of Americana. 4.5/5
Definitely a good record. 8
Fav tracks: lonesome Suzie, key to the highway I liked this album more than I expected to. Excellent songwriting, it’s nice to hear the rest of the album besides the iconic song, “the weight”
čista solidna trojka. ništa posebno dobro ni loše. uhu niti smeta niti štajaznam koliko godi. raznovrsnost, koju neki ističu kao manu, meni je prije pozitivna strana
It was okay. The guitar work on this was awesome.
Mid
Plus fun que je m'attendais ! J'ai beaucoup aimé the Weight. Un peu stéréotype 60's d'où les deux étoiles, mais je pense me le refaire en entier un de ces quatre, il est vraiment pas mal du tout.
This wasn’t my cup of tea but I can see the talent. I did not like how difficult it was to hear the singer. The sound seemed off and that affected my enjoyment. I did not listen to t
It was good
It didn't do much for me
Buenos clásicos con buena onda. Me gusta como para relajarme.
Goo Goo
Not my favorite from The Band but definitely a good record
okej je bio
Alright.
not bad…songs blended together though
It was alright enjoyed it might listen again
Not super interesting to me. Very late 60s mellow country Dad rock. 2 ⭐️s
There was a lot of country-rock type stuff that I loved (or at least claimed to love) in my early 20s that doesn't really hold up for me. This one does. Also the Last Waltz is amazing and I need to revisit it.
Really enjoyed it! Especially This Wheel's On Fire! From Wikipedia: "a distinctive blend of country, rock, folk, classical, R&B, blues, and soul"
Kurante saker. Litt tynt til tider. Kommer dog neppe til å få et innfall om å sette på dette av egen maskin.
- soa bem genuíno. não usa overdub o que torna o som muito mais natural do que a maioria das gravações e dá a sensação de que são amigos tocando numa jam. - as letras são bem escritas, falam sobre emoções cotidianas de uma forma bem poética. além disso foi inspiração para artistas e movimentos, principalmente na vertente de roots rock
12/15/2025: I didn't listen super closely to this one. It was fine, a little boring sometimes. Face songs are The Weight and Chest Fever. 6/10
In one ear out the other
cba / 5 Bob Dylan is mentioned 15x (!) times in the wiki article. Each mention of him = -0.3 stars. Why? Because Dylan's music sucks and once you've heard one of his songs, you've heard pretty much all of them. I know that ignoring an entire album that was made by an established band just for that isn't fair, but this world isn't fair, so what do you expect? Might get back to this when I really feel like it, but not today.
At least the writing's good, I guess...
Very interesting.
Loved this one!!!
Amazing tracks. Sometimes a bit boring.
Rå roots rock. Bunnsolid hele veien, men mangler det lille ekstra for å klatre enda høyere på stjerneskalaen. ELSKER for øvrig albumcoveret her. Top 3: The Weight, Tears of Rage, To Kingdom Come
The original skäggrock. Det väl jämnt skägg huruvida denna eller den bruna är bäst (göteborgaren i mig vill gärna skriva det). Minns jag rätt gav denna i födelsedagspresent till Fredrik en gång i tiden. Väldigt lössläppt, balaserar hela tiden på en knivsegg att bli för lössläppt men klarar sig hela tiden. Det är ganska så underbar balansakt. Soundet, det lunkande svänget och den dubblerade sången är förträfflig rakt igenom, men en del låtar är tyvärr lite anonyma. Medans andra å andra sidan är femstjärniga. Att "the weight" är en sådan behöver vi inte orda om. Men "wheels of fire", "we can talk", och versionen på "long black veil" hör också dit. Sen har förstås Dylanpennade "I shall be released". The Bands version är den att föredra, den är så jävla fin! Det är en låt jag överväger att ha till min egen begravning. Klarar fyran på målskillnad
Fem killar går in i ett hus och trycker på rec. En timme senare har de spelat in elva framtida klassiker. Bara så där. Inga omtagningar. Riktigt så gick det väl inte till. Men få skivor kan som Music from Big Pink ge den känslan av att musiken bara uppstår, lika enkelt och naturligt som genialt, som sprungen ur en uråldrig källa.
Ett stabilt hantverk av v souldoftande countryrock. Bandet kan sin sak. Det hade emellertid fått sticka ut lite mer ibland. Det här är trivsamt och fint men kanske inte så mycket mer. Stabil trea får det ändock bli.
Det låter bra om Big Pink men det saknas de där riktigt bra låtarna för ett toppbetyg. Det är ett gott hantverk. Här finns å andra sidan inget dåligt och inget som faller ut ramen.
This album doesn't resonate with me at all. Just because an album came from the 60s doesn't mean that is automatically good. I kind of struggled my way through this one.
Nice blues rock album, at first i was a little offput by the vocals, but its really soothing and a compliment to the album. I would really like to highlight the tracks Caledonia Mission and The Weight, i feel the chemistry between all of the members to shine through the most in this track, they just really know how to wield those instruments in a way that it feels like a ride through the sunset, 9/10
Not bad
Bob Dylan’s band. I know what this entails. I might listen tomorrow. Didn’t listen fully but solid obviously
Not a The Band fan, man. You can keep your load.
Favorite Songs: Chest Fever, I Shall Be Released Least Favorite Song: Lonesome Suzie This feels so deeply American and folky that you can imagine my shock when I found out these guys were from Canada. The piano in this absolutely rocks!
I didn't really like it.
The Band are legendary, however I feel like there’s a mix here of some of their all time classics and some more mediocre fare. Still a very enjoyable listen though.
Solid stuff. Chest Fever is an all time classic. As I've gotten older, I appreciate The Weight even more. I think this is their best album.
Long Black Veil was a standout song for me. Otherwise, not my favorite, but an overall fine listen.
Alt, nichts Spezielles.
Big pink is light without the weight.
This is an amazing first album. The Weight is honestly one of the best songs from this era. This album is also proof that Bob Dylan should just do art work instead of singing.
The Good: We get to listen to Big Pink’s music!!! The Bad: They forgot the Floyd… The Ugly: Forgetting what The Band is called… You get a little of this, then a little of that, but you never get what you are looking for… that’s the way I feel about listening to this album. Sure, there are some great hits on this album, and the production is spot on, at least while the sounds are coming through my speakers… Yet there’s something missing… Cohesion, maybe? Then there’s the vocal shenanigans going on… where I am not a big fan of Dick’s voice, instead wishing that there were more songs involving Helms vocals wizardry… Yet, for all my bitching and complaining, I will still dish out 4* to this outing, but I know that I want to listen to it again, maybe on a nice relaxed day while I have nothing better to do then take a country road ride, or just sit in a nice recliner while having a nice cold beer...
Kann man gut hören, aber auch nicht der burner (für mich persönlich)!
Well what can i say really, the dons, its The fucking Band. Multiple listens to this today, The Weight is one of the best songs of all time. Tears Of Rage comes in at #2, and is an unbelievable opener. 5.0/5.0 Best Song: The Weight/Tears Of Rage
No notes. Its a perfect album, and not even their best. 4 Canadian Dudes and 1 American created the Americana genre. Its such easy listening, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko have two of the most beautiful voices of all time. The whole band is so talented and this album is just amazing. I don't think there is a more influential song than The Weight either, it might be the greatest bit of songwriting ever.
4/10 Knowing and enjoying The Band's second album before listening to this, I was hoping for a bit more of the same. Folksy music with a good groove, a bit of grit and drive and some decent hooks to engage the obvious talent of the players. Unfortunately, this album very much feels like they hadn’t quite worked out how to combine all of their obviously talented ingredients into a completely satisfying dish. There are moments when things really hook up, particularly towards the end of side one, with Caledonia Mission and The Weight, and they really show the direction of travel towards their second album, but much of the rest of the album is a little bit too disorganised and lacking in focus for my taste. They’re obviously a talented band and the playing is, for the most part, great. But there are too many moments where they kind of end up getting a bit too wayward and drifting around in a way that I’m sure some pople enjoy, but wasn’t really tight enough to satisfy my ear. There were also moments where things just became a little too dull and uninspiring. When they land on exactly the right vibe of a track, the vocals can actually work quite well, but when thy miss that, they can end up distracting rather than complimenting the music. The last track, for example, is a really pretty little song, but the vocal just doesn’t work and actually drags the rest of the song back with it, which is a shame. Perhaps part of this is that the genre that this leans towards is not one that I particularly connect with, and the transition to a more groove and rock oriented tone on the follow up just sits a bit more sweetly in my ear, but while I enjoyed moments here, it’s not one that’s really going to stick with me. Tears Of Rage - There’s a laid back cool to this. It’s certainly full of vibe, and there are some really nice moments, but it’s perhaps a little too dragging in pace for me. It has a pretty clear structure underneath it, but it all feels a bit too unfocused over the top of that. There are moments when things all tie up together, but it all seems quite samey and a little meandering at the same time. To Kingdom Come - There’s a bit more pace to this and it’s got a bit of an old school R&B edge to it, but that's a bit dulled by the strained vocal. Again, there are moments that I like, but there’s nothing about it that really grabs me and sticks in my mind. I like the vibe, but the execution just doesn’t quite connect with me. In A Station - It’s a very twee start. This feels a bit more focused and structured in the verse and it feels like it’s building to something, but then the chorus just doesn’t deliver. I was expecting it to launch into something, but it all stays at a very similar level. Unfortunately, that just makes it a bit too drifting and dull and it never really deviates at all from that fairly middle of the road tone. Caledonia Mission - This starts off at a similar pace and feel to the previous track, but then it modulates around really nicely and actually switches up into something pretty jazzy and far more satisfying into the chorus. The lilt and groove of this also plays more into the vocal stylings of Rick Danko. There are some really solid, groovy riffs in this and there's nice variation between the different sections which evolve nicely and create the most satisfying song on the album thus far. The Weight - And now we’ve hit our stride. There’ a solid, hooky chorus, some really great playing and it feels like everyone is pulling in the same direction. There are some great moments from the piano, but everyone does a great job. It’s got a great groove and the instrumentation has a clarity that was missing on some of the earlier tracks. The structure of the group vocals are really well done too. Great track. We Can Talk - Some nice organ work to kick us off here and it’s another where things feel more focused to begin with, but we start losing focus a bit part way through. There are some nice moments with some solid hooks, but it feels a little more meandering between those sections of quality. It’s not bad, but it gets a little lost in its own journey for me. Long Black Veil - This is a bit more plodding. The structure of it is a bit more focused, but it’s not the most inspiring or exciting of songs. It has some nice enough moments, but it’s just a bit on the dull side. Another where they’re executing the idea really well, but the idea itself just doesn’t really connect with me. Chest Fever - This feels like we’re going to get something with a bit more fire to it, but it never quite delivers on that promise. It’s got a decent groove to it, but it never really lifts off n the way I’d hope. And then half way through they just start doing something a bit weird and disconnected for no reason, before returning to the theme. It actually picks up a little after that, but it in general feels a little bit unstructured and disconnected in places. The bones of something pretty good are actually in here, I think, but I don’t think it’s been fleshed out in a particularly satisfying way. Lonesome Suzie - And we’re back to something a bit more focused. It’s actually quite pretty and well put together and they stick to the theme and structure throughout. I’m not completely sold on the vocal, but it has an edge of vulnerability that works to a certain degree. A pretty decent track. This Wheel's On Fire - Another slightly muddled track. Things move pretty nicely through the verses. There’s a good groove, some great playing and a solid vibe to it, but then the chorus just… doesn’t deliver at all. The intensity drops and it’s just a bland, plodding distraction from the work that’s been done during the verses, which is really disappointing. I Shall Be Released - And it’s quite a nice track to close us out that’s not as nice as it should be because the vocal is way too strained in places. Listening to the instrumental behind it, it’s got a great vibe and is really well put together, but the vocal just distracts too much and doesn’t work at all with the delicate nature of the rest of the song. It’s a shame, but it kind of sums up my feeling about this album in general. A lot of potential, some good ideas, but the way that things are put together and executed just doesn’t really deliver on that promise.
5.0/10
Like the pile of Dylan albums isn’t enough for this list. Obviously, the absence of his caterwauling is an improvement, but the music isn’t any good either.
THE Band. My go to answer when asked which band is your favorite. The Band. Music from big pink captures what makes The Band. This collection of songs spans genres and decades all presented with the tight musicianship of a road tested band. The band. Levon Helm is a personal hero of mine and is the highlight for me whenever he sings. I feel tempted to write a four page essay on this album but I’ll leave it at four stars. God bless anyone who stumbles on and explores these guys.
I liked it fine, but I didn't find it compelling. 1968, i bet this rocked then and I didn’t give it a fair chance.
Meh
Some songs are pretty good, but the album overall feels bland. Is it famous because of its ties to Bob Dylan?
Otis
it's alright - easy listening while working. Probably wouldn't listen to it again.
I've listened to a lot of the band, but never this album together, fucking incredible, and I didn't realize that Richard Manuel was so involved at first, singing a lot, and writing a bit. That motherfucker may have well had the best voice in rock. Tears of Rage does slow song intensity like no one ever has. Garths organ/electronic experimentation, levons drumming, and singing somehow, danko singing, robertson clean and tasteful. The world didn't deserve these guys.
Boring
Great album
I knew about this album from quite a young age. And, yep, I knew The Weight because of a crappy Weezer cover some years ago. It sounds like Tom Petty and Neil Youngs voices were combined together, played with 60s sensibilities and religious overtones. I didn't really care for it, nothing offensive, but not my cup of tea. 3 stars.
This album just sounds like you’re telling your friend about how your girlfriend dumped you last weekend. You’re sad, you’re angry at her, and you’re not really sure where to go from here.
Its ok. A bit bland it parts. But it also has the track The Weight which is a lil rippa.
A few memorable hits that make this album a hit!
Sure, The Weight is a classic, but does it hold enough weight for the rest of the album. I enjoyed the parts that were uniquely blending folk and rock and blues differently than most at the time, but Bob Dylan's influence was apparent, especially when I was falling asleep.
Great album. Americana at its best or rather Canadiana.
The weight is good, Chest Fever surprised me. The rest weren't memorable.
pretty good, funky
When Bob Dylan's band first stepped out from his shadows to record their own material, they made a name for themselves as a creative force in their own rite, and helped popularize the emerging Americana movement. The sounds stood as a refreshing contrast (for some) to the psychedelic rock that dominated popular music of this era. Dylan himself wisely took a back seat on this one, contributing only a few songs and an album cover but no actual performances. It was a smart move as it really let the others shine. I do think there's a unique energy to this album and I kind of love that it was made. But it's also not one that I'd probably return to often, apart from the stunning "The Weight" is stands far above the rest of the tracks. I'm glad I heard it though, as it's a good album and a nice piece of music history.
Some great tracks on this
Oh, The Weight is great, although the album overall feels very bland to me. It's definitely skillful, but just very unexciting.
A generic 60s folk-rock album. It's ok, but nothing incredible. 3/5
Holds up
It's nice. It has some potential.
One of the albums which was big time influential back in the days but nothing special today
Listened to it yesterday and can't remember a single thing about it.
Prefer the self titled album but this was still good.
Oh yeah now we're talking. I didn't need to listen to this one again as I already know it note for note but I ran it anyway.
Roots rock, Americana, whatever you want to call it, I dig it. And it arguably got its start right here.
This was fine I guess. Just a mellow listen. Nothing really stands out to me but “The Weight”. That hit is overplayed a little yet still kind of timeless.
I was hoping for some of the songs to be on par with The Weight due to how overplayed it is, but none really presented other than a decent cover of The Long Black Veil. Still, as a singing drummer myself I gotta give props here. Overall just an average listen.
I really don’t understand multiple inclusions from this group. You really just need to hear the Weight, and even that isn’t mind blowing. Just super well known.
Sounded like what you’d expect if someone said “play me some music from 1968.” The weight is a solid jam. Some good parts throughout but didn’t really grab me and not something I’ll go back to.
Whenever The Band comes up on this list my brain says OH FUCK NO IT'S STEELY DAN!!! And then I remember I am dumb and this band is find. The Weight has obvi been played so much it is kind of annoying. I have a bit of a soft spot for I Shall Be Released. I'm sure peeps geek out on the Dylan connection yada yada, but this is middle of the road decent rock but not something incredible IMO. 3.5/5
Little bit more folky than what I’m used to listening to, but it’s not bad. Not sure if I’ll come back to it anytime soon, but I enjoyed it a bit for what it is.
Hard to give any album that has The Weight under 3 stars but nothing else here. Only version of I shall be released that I don’t like.
This is a really special album to me. It was one of my dad's absolute favourites, it was playing constantly. And it's really good. I'll always love the Band and this might be their best.
I enjoyed this a low 4
Ok so i thing The Weight is quite a cool arm-in-arm drunken hillbilly song but i discovered Chest Fever which i quite liked. So these two saved the album which i would probably not listen to again.
This was pretty good. Child background music, especially for writing. 3/5.
Better than expected, nice calm songs, Knew the one that goes take a load off annie
2.5
A great band: no pun intended. This is what happens when terrific musicians get together and nobody has to outshine the others. Not every song works well, but it is still a pleasure to listen to the musicianship and arrangement. I'm giving this an extra star simply because of "The Weight".
Always a pleasure. Found a new one I hadn’t listened to closely before—Lonesome Suzie. Good stuff!
Really awesome
The Weight is a classic piece of American pie.
Its a classic as far as I know but not my particular cup of tea. Good for backgorund music, for that, its perfect. Chill guitar vibes I remember but nothing special
The Band is everything and now there are no more members remaining. Even if every song isn't a 5/5, this album is a 5/5. I can't in good conscience give anything released before Moondog Matinee less than a 5. It's quite a feat to have a band where technical vocal power isn't really the point, and yet have three great singers (Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel) each bringing something different to the table. Took me way too long to learn that it's Richard Manuel's voice (a rare falsetto turn from him) on I Shall Be Released, as opposed to Rick Danko, who just sounded like that normally. Tears of Rage has that Danko ache and is the perfect opener. Other highlights are We Can Talk, Chest Fever (Garth Hudson's playing!), This Wheel's on Fire, and of course The Weight and I Shall Be Released. I Shall Be Released is a religious experience and I've turned to it in difficult times before, and will probably do so again.
Very cool and easy to listen to, but not that much more for me.
Favorite songs so far: Tears of Rage, Long Black Veil & I Shall Be Released Thoughts: Pretty good album, I'd give it a 7,5/10 for vibes alone, some clever lyrics but nothing too crazy, wouldn't say it's life-changing but definitely worth the listen
4/5
Real Americana music that is really deeply invigorating and original. This album has everything the mid 60's enthusiast wants without all the pretensions and you can feel the earth under your feet and know you have found nirvana.
Better than I remember it being. The Weight and Long Black Veil stand out.
Of all the 60s albums I've found here, this one had the most clear, simple, and soulful music. I truly enjoyed it.
Loved it
Again, too familiar. Sounds stale.
5/10
Great album cover, mediocre music.
Dumb name dumb album
Cool album..
Always underrated
I enjoyed this! Particularly liked to kingdom come. only knocked off some stars for vocals, but the instrumental is great!
Absolutely one of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands. Who knew a Canadian band could be so good at capturing the American sentiment so well.
Soulful Beatles
Enjoyed more than I expected
amazing cover, the music is also great
The Weight is solid but the rest of it all blended together for me
I recognize this is more a failure of approaching a foundational work with the knowledge of what will come next, how people took what was original and expanded on it or altered it, and I'd ideally approach this album in a vacuum. But I don't like the folksy rock that spawned from this so I'm not loving this either. I think it's fine, but I know it leads to things like Clapton, Eagles, the less good parts of anyone involved in Crosby Stills Nash (sometimes) Young, so on. I'm also never going to get that excited about something with this much Dylan in it but at least he's not singing 2 or 3, won't be sure until it's time actually time to rate it. not adding to collection (but might revisit it later)
Average band name. Average Band album.
I’ve had this downloaded for about a month now, ever since I generated their self titled album, so at last I finally gave it a listen and I really enjoyed it. It didn’t blow me away like The Band did but it’s still a great album that I’ll be going back to. Top Track - The Weight
The Weight alone is 4 stars. Good old Americana, folky music.
A classic for a reason. Completely chill & laid back vibes with nice songwriting and pleasant music to go with it. Can't go wrong here. 4
Can't remember. Twas nice, but eh.
Meh. Hela albumet känns som "bandet spelar än fast alla gäster har gått hem". Hade önskat bättre sång. Liten pluspoäng eftersom den musikaliska delen ändå håller nivån och inte är direkt dålig. Dvs jag kan ha på albumet i bakgrunden när jag pysslar med annat utan att vilja slita ut kontakten. 1,5/5
This is pretty good. I know it's real famous and I even own it. Only three stars though if I'm honest (and I am).
Not super interesting
At the risk of offending my father: 2 stars. Doesn't appeal to me.
Too country. One good hit.
Solid classic rock.
1 absolutely classic song and a few decent ones
Second Band album from the generator. A really sweet record. I didn't like the other one much but this one is actually quite good 3/5
The Band invented the concept of playing music in a group back in the 1960s, where previously only solo artists had existed. The Band is called The Band because at the time they were the only band. Their debut album "The Album" featured the songs, including the singles and the b-sides. Jokes aside, these names would be quite fitting for this music, as it's perfectly inoffensive but bland and uninteresting.
I listened to this album on the train, and I think that is a perfect way to enjoy it. My mom used to always play “The Weight” when I was a kid, and listening to that one really made me feel emotional and nostalgic this time around. Best Track: The Weight
This album feels so warm and cozy, like someone’s wrapping a warm blanket around me, handing me a hot drink, it’s an amazing feeling
It's not bad just wasn't feelin it
It takes quite some confidence to call yourselves "The Band". Especially when you make an album so bland
I see the appeal and I understand why this would be influential. After backing Dylan, the attention was on them to make a good record for their debut. This certainly is a good record. The organ really drives the sound and they blend country, folk and rock with.. well, pretty much everything else. It is a very good record.
Finally found The Weight
Certainly a band that held their own among the giants of Rock and Roll. A good album.
Easy to listen to, jam rock with great vocals. The Weight is a classic that can’t be skipped, it sounds like a much needed breath out.
This record is a baseball game won using small-ball. No home runs, (although Weight is definitely a stand up triple) everybody is at least 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run of their own. The Band wins, final score 16-5. 4.3 outta 5
I love The Band, but I guess I'm more into the singles. Rick Danko's bass playing was legendary. He had an approach to the bass that made it sound more like a tuba than an electric bass, which added so much depth to The Band's music. Liked Songs Added: The Weight Chest Fever I Shall Be Released
Love this album… faves are: - The Weight - Long Dark Veil - I Shall be Released Classic.
Love The Weight but so much of the rest is kinda annoying voice. Maybe I'm just grumpy but just slipped down from a 3 for me given I only liked the one song I knew.
Not to my taste
This album was fine. It was an easy listen, but nothing really grabbed me.
I like the style of music and I like a lot of the songs...but for some reason I wasn't a massive fan of these versions of these songs. Didn't love the singer's voice and a lot of the songs felt quite slow and laboured.
What a debut album.
Music with some gritty soul.
this album feels so comforting in such a particular way
Good stuff.
Tears of Rage - 3/5 To Kingdom Come - 4/5 In a Station - 3/5 Caledonia Mission - 4/5 The Weight - 4/5 We Can Talk - 4/5 Long Black Veil - 3/5 Chest Fever - 4/5 Lonesome Suzie - 3/5 This Wheel's on Fire - 3/5 I Shall Be Released - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good listen but it’s manly the weight & chest fever…
The weight is the best out of here. Nothing to griping for me
After listening to this album a second time, I found I appreciated it more. The Weight, is obviously a great track, Caledonia Mission was appealing to me, as was Chest Fever. Pretty good example of the Soft Rock genre and easy to listen to. Other than The Weight, nothing really stood out to me as amazing though.
Did this album warrant a snarky cutting review. Not really. The weight is a jam though, I'm down with that. Certainly not as good as lamb chops and painful ejaculations.
I am not Nigel.
I eat lamb chops for breakfast and bees for lunch.
It's 2025 and we are back! Fun fact: All of the members of The Band were so infested with head lice that they spent hours ripping eachother's pubes out whilst drinking whisky and chowing down on crisp butties. They later burned the pubes in a ceremonial bonfire whilst recording this album. If you listen carefully you can hear the squealing of the burning lice on tracks 4, 6 and 7.
AI Nonce Music From Big Pink In that order.
I like Dylan's versions better.
I fucking love The Band.
I'm not sure if it was the tempo, or the instrumentation, or the vocals, or all of the above, but this felt actively lazy to me. Like it was trying to be boring on purpose. Sorry, but "The Weight" isn't strong enough to carry the... er... weight... of the rest of this wallpaper paste.
This album did nothing to change my thoughts on The Band. What shit.
The Weight is incredible, all the others are... fine. 2.5/5
I'm not too fussed. Not my kinda thing.
Highlight songs: Tears of Rage To Kingdom Come Caledonia Mission The Weight We Can Talk Chest Fever I Shall Be Released
Amazing album, definitely worth listening to again
This is one of those bands I think I'm supposed to like, but it doesn't do anything for me
3.5, pretty good
Superb album with a fantastic mix of instruments and vocals. You cant go wrong with “The Weight” and “We can Talk”.
Their music and songs were good, a few standouts, although not really my taste.
Day 4: Best tracks: The Weight, Chest Fever, Tears Of Rage, I Shall Be Released A classic that spawned a decade of tunes capped by The Last Waltz. I've always preferred The Band in this more unrefined sound. 8/10.
When Paul McCartney said this was one of the 3 best albums he ever listened to, I came into this with HUGE expectations. And i've gotta say, Paul, if you told me Rebecca Black was a generational Female vocalist, i'd believe you. Some people you just dont question their musical opinions. However, in this case. I think me and Paul just have different tastes (hence why he's a musical icon and im here writing reviews lol). I like the instrumentation on this album, and this guy is a cool vocalist to listen to. But i cant ever see myself revisting this album routinely, other than "The Weight" 3/5
tears of rage- 5 to kingdom come- 5 in a station- 5 caledonia mission- 5 or 6 the weight- 5 we can talk- 5 long black veil- 5 chest fever- 5 lonesome suzie- 5 this wheels on fire- 5 i shall be released- 5
неплохой
Just magnificent. The Weight is among the greatest songs ever recorded, and then throw in the likes of Tears of Rage, Chest Fever and Long Black Veil and you’re on to a winner.
I find it pretentious to name your band "Band". I do understand there's context to this, but it ages like milk. I was able to appreciate the B side, but that first half was dull. I was preparing a 2 star review. Not that it's that much better when the continuous singles come up, but you start to understand the relevance and why it might be on this list. I'm glad I gave it a listen, I don't want to listen to it again. 2.8/5
This one was fine, but I think I liked The Band’s debut album a lot more. The Big Pink has that same mix of roots rock and Americana vibes, but it doesn’t quite hit with the same energy or charm. It feels more polished, which takes away some of the raw magic that made their first record so great. There are still some solid moments here, though. The musicianship is as tight as ever, and the harmonies are strong. It just lacks that spark that made Music from Big Pink stand out. After a few tracks, it starts to blur together a bit. Not a bad album by any means, just not one that stuck with me. It’s good, but compared to their debut, it feels like a step down.
Love it.
Enjoyable music form this era, I can vibe with this. It’s a good mix of old music I haven’t heard outside of the weight. I’d give it a 3.5 if I could, it’s good but I wouldn’t go out of my way for most of it again.
Only knew their hits. Lovely songwriting, great mix (love the 60s bass and drums sound), can hear the influence they had in modern bands that emulate this style (like one of my favorites, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros). Can definitely see myself working this into regular listening
I have to do a backward exercise, putting myself in the late 60s, and then I realize how this album would be one of the first to mix genres like country, rock, folk, blues, and so on. Some tracks feature distinctive storytelling and a musical style that defies genre boundaries. "The Weight," "I Shall Be Released," "The Long Black Veil," and "We Can Talk" offer different narratives that evoke emotional and social themes. "Tears of Rage" was co-written with Bob Dylan. In fact, The Band emerged as a distinct group after backing Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour. Finally, I'm not going to pick a favorite because what I really liked about this album was the rich vocal harmonies, versatile instrumentation, and the mix of genres. A curiosity: The album includes the iconic song "The Weight" (track number 5), which gained greater popularity after The Band’s performance at Woodstock and its inclusion in the film "Easy Rider." Wow!
Nothing here for me.
I guess this was okay. Now I know who sang "The Weight." Maybe that'll be useful in bar trivia. And "Chest Fever" has a pretry cool organ chord progression to start with that evolves into a kind of groovy organ solo. So, this album had that going for it. Otherwise, not my jam at all.
I know, I'm a Philistine. This would be a higher rating, but I really dislike the strangled wail that makes up 2/3 of the vocals.
3/5 - I like Americana-style music, so this gets at least a 3 just for the "must hear it before you die" aspect and influence The Band had on acts to follow. I liked this, and listened to it twice, having never heard it before, but it wasn't a revelation or anything. Solid, laid back American music from the 60s.
Nice swing in "Tears of Rage", pretty moving! In a Station is a superb ballad too, I'm really digging this album. It was cheesy but it is for sure a classic, I'm glad I found this album out. Way better than their self titled.
Decent rock album of its era. Some of the heavy harmony portions feel like they’re sung by the muppets.
God I love The Band. One might say I’m The Fan.
"Tears of Rage" is far and away the best The Band song. The rest of this album, including "The Weight" is everything I hate about the band. I honestly thought, based on the strength of that first track that this would be the album that made me reconsider The Band. NOPE. CONGRATS ON YOUR ONLY GOOD SONG.
Good stuff, especially ‘Long Black Veil’ and ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’. If it sounded less like Bob Dylan it would be a 5… 4.5
01) Tears of Rage - 7,0 02) To Kingdom Come - 6,5 03) In a Station - 6,5 04) Caledonia Mission - 6,5 05) The Weight - 9,0 06) We Can Talk - 7,0 07) Long Black Veil - 6,5 08) Chest Fever - 7,0 09) Lonesome Suzie - 6,5 10) This Wheel's on Fire - 7,0 11) I Shall Be Released - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,00 (70/100) Current ranking: 409/713
Very interesting mix in this album. Largely folksy blues, but there are some heavy influences of country, rock, soul, and just a hint of psychedelic. Solid album and great outing from The Band.
3.7/5 just some classic rock classic track on here didn’t even feel like listening, have listened already
This was one of my those “put it on and have it play in the background” kind of albums. Solid, but definitely dated.
Love it. Own it.
“The Weight” is a classic - how many movies have had their happy ending set to this song? But the rest of this felt very monotonous (in the “monotone” sense more than the “long and tedious” sense). If you’re going to be THE Band, I need you to do more. The other standout for me would be "I Shall Be Released", but the Neil Young-esque falsetto vocals don't work for me here. For the most part, this is solid (if totally ignorable) background music.
Tunes from West Saugerties, New York.
I might've just been in the wrong mood but I found this album really unbearable. The first song is this 5 minute dirge and it completely ruins the rest of the album for me
Kinda boring, but also basically perfect 60’s rock. 2.5/5
ok but they actually ate…. what the hellyante
I'd describe the sound of this album as ramshackle-inspired, and there was less of the inspired than I was hoping for. I was a bit let down. "The Weight" is a great song and there are a couple of others that are nearly as good, but many other songs feel like a jam session that needed some revisiting before pressing it onto a record.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! you can definitely see the foundations of a lot of musical overlap being laid, with the rock/jazz/funk combo.
One of the best of all time
Good album. Had the feels and sounds of The Doobie Brothers, Boston and The Eagles.
Not having listened to this in a long time I was struck by how it really sounds like a bunch of friends just jamming and having fun playing music together. The Weight is obviously a classic. But there’s more to this record than that - Tears of Rage, We Can Talk About It and Long Black Veil are the other standouts for me.
Acknowledged classic album, but I honestly find 90% of The Band's songs a little grating due to the vocals and heavy barroom piano.
The Weight is such a classic
leider nich genug zeit gehabt es kompöett zu hören, aber erster Eindruck ist gut.
Pre: the band is great, big pink has something to do with Dylan? Post: compilation? Great stuff
Come on now
This is my second The Band record and I think it's enough for me to conclude they're not really thing. In the same manner as Black Country New Road I just think there's too much going on. For me it all sounds chaotic but not in the wild electric freedom of say a jazz band freestyling, more in a clustered, claustrophobic way that I feel overwhelmed and eventually unengaged. Not bad by any means, just not my thing.
Now I've heard the album The Single came from
It was whatever. Appreciate that they're from TRONNO though
Classic rock album with lots of recognizable tunes, especially The Weight. Important tunes to know to relate to Boomers!
Familiar with ‘The Weight’ and enjoyed the album as a whole, but no other standouts that would cause me to listen again.
Take a Load Off is good the rest not so much
A little boring. Produced some songs that were absolute bangers of covers but meh.
This is one of my favourite albums. Discovering the plaintive, folk-drenched sounds of The Band crystalized my lifelong love of roots/folk-rock/Americana (or preferentially, Canadiana, on this side of the border). It was life-altering in the subtle way that art improves and undergirds our lives. This is another record that I shouldn't rhapsodize too much -- there's been enough ink spilt on its account. Just give this a listen. Keep an ear out for the harmonies and for the strains of each band member's contributions bleeding through: Levon's traditional folk from the South; Garth Hudson's conservatory training; Robbie's fire; Rick Danko's obvious R&B influences (and his utterly unique vocal timbre) and the pure, uncut sadness of Richard Manuel. It's not easy to write a standard. They've written several -- two ('The Weight', 'This Wheel's On Fire' with Dylan) and stole a third ('I Shall Be Released' is a Dylan composition but it belongs to The Band and Richard Manuel in particular) on this record alone. If you've ever heard some lazy, jangly bullshit, it was probably trying to get to this place.
да блин ну одно и то же психоделически акустическое из 60-70 хз
I rode into Nazareth.