Reviews (page 6 of 7)
This wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I didn’t think it was bad at first, but it got knocked down from 3 to 2 for the following: - too long - boring - concept album
OMG - WTF were they thinking? No winder you know none of these songs, or were familiar with this - it's pretty bad, and I consider myself a fan of the Brothers Gibb. Robin was smart to leave over this...
We have the Beatles at home:
Loved this album musically. The musical structure was pleasing to the ear. Unfortunately, vocally, seemed like a lot of odd choices and none of them rang true. It's almost like they went out of their way to be psychedelic or something similar to the sign of the times. It should be noted that this album was released in 1969, in the hay day of bands like Led Zepplin, The Grateful Dead, 5th Dimension, King Crimson and ofcourse The Beatles. I couldn't enjoy this album, the vocals ruined the experience for me. Ironically coming from a band of brothers known for thier angelic voices.
I like their disco era much better. This feels uninspired and very generic.
Personally, this is the Bee Gees at their worst. They do disco much better.
I find it very unoriginal to say the least. One track has one of the Gibb brothers emulating Paul McCartney. This album is nothing like the Bee Gees' later stuff. But it's not absolutely dreadful like a few albums I've heard. Looks like I'll forget this record within a month. 2 stars for "Odessa".
This album is an enigma to me. It fits squarely within the pre-disco canon, but it feels like this is a band aspiring to greatness and being completely unable to attain it. They were just waiting for disco for their mediocrity to save them. If I needed to hear this before I die, it seems like it had to be done just so I would better appreciate their contribution to disco. John Travolta should be the most grateful man in the world.
I really wanted to like this. I love over the top stupid vanity projects. Melancholy and the infinite sadness is my favorite album, but man this goes hard. What a rough listen. It's like listening to someone trying to find a point of view and going nowhere. Doesn't help that I hear Jimmy Fallon singing half of this. Only gets 2 stars because I think it's hilarious that everyone was expecting a disco album.
Christ on a high-pitched bike, what is this? Just the weirdest, most nonsensical album you can imagine. Apparently it's a concept, but the concept seems to be 'what if a talented group of songwriters deliberately made a stupid album'. It's rescued a bit by I Laugh In Your Face, which is funny in a good way, as opposed to laugh-out-loud stupid.
Their country tracks are nice. But the schmaltzy tracks are dire
They really threw everything at the wall to see what would stick on this one. I honestly had no idea The Bee Gees were a Beatles-esque band before they switched to disco so this album was a trip. Most of it did not stick. There were a few decent songs, but this thing is BLOATED! If they cut this down to between 30-35 minutes they could’ve had a decent album. As it is, it’s a meandering mess with a spattering of good songs mixed in.
Nice enough to listen to, but a little boring at times. Some songs are just very irrelevant and it makes me feel like I should be done half way through the album. The orchestration is cool but it kinda feels like a gimmick.
Meh
I feel like The Bee Gees get a bad rap. Unfortunately this album isn’t doing them any favors. Felt like they wanted to be the Beatles, have their own Sgt. Peppers. Didn’t quite get there.
Interesting 60’s art rock / concept album. God for one listen.
Cozy album but nothing was memorable after the first listen. May need to go back and try again.
At least it wasn’t disco
A weird album.
Better than Trafalgar but still a bore.
I listened to this and played Roblox's Only Up at the same time. Guess which activity I liked more
Only liked Give Your Best because it was a folk song
It´s bad, but it does not irritates. It´s a no soul genre music. Totally passible.
# 282 : Very ordinary. Average at best.
The Bee Gees are proof positive that man can lead a rewarding and successful life after self-castration. Though it is still not recommended.
I don't know if it's Andy Gibb or not, but one of these guys went to The Sing-Like-a-Sheep School of Music with Stevie Nix. But, they're from Australia, so..... As for the music, pretty standard pop stuff, fluffy pablum. There were only one or two Bee Gees tunes I liked, and they aren't on this album.
I'm usually a fan of grand, sweeping, earnest work, even when ultimately ridiculous. But this album tested even my mettle. By Sound of Love I was pretty sure I was over it and then Seven Seas Symphony broke me. I'm afraid this album isn't anything they wanted it to be. Perhaps it's on the list as a counterexample? I will admit I kind of liked The British Opera, star for that.
Irritating vibrato and excessive orchestral instrumentation (those God-awful, elevator-music strings, in particular) plague an otherwise interesting collection of tracks. Really liked the diversity of styles on side 2 (Whisper Whisper is the best song on the album and sounds like a Lennon/Beatles track). Also liked the ambition of the opening track, Odessa, though it gets tedious at times. Never Say Never Again is kinda catchy. The rest is hard to listen to, though, and will prevent future visits.
I had never listened to any of The Bee Gees non-disco stuff before. Honestly I wish I kept it that way. It’s not offensive, but it’s so clearly trying to copy The Beach Boys / The Band / The Beatles and it just comes off as lame.
Better than I expected
I did not care for this album. I previously heard other early Bee Gees albums but this one is a bit too heavy on the orchestral parts for me. It also doesn't help that this is a double album. I did like the track Marley Purt Drive, but would pass on the rest.
Quite cool to listen to pre-Saturday Night Fever Bee Gees but not my favorite
Interesting to hear their pre disco sound. Almost sounded like the Beatles and The Band on some songs. That being said it was pretty boring beyond the novelty of getting to hear another side of the famous band.
Bee gees have some songs before their disco era that stand out, but they were not nearly as interesting back then, sadly. There's nothing wrong with this album production wise really, and the song is good. But it's just so boring. There isn't really any song that stands out to me, but there are a few that I really don't like, such as 'I Laugh In Your Face', and the sudden cowboy song of 'Give Your Best' that doesn't fit at all in the record. Very forgettable album, no idea why it's on the list at all.
Was expecting disco and instead got some type of progressive folk. I mean the album is ok, with good musicians and all but I have grown a bit tired of this genre after too many similar albums. The ending changed into some nearly classical feature. I feel I've given so many similar albums a 3 but given that I don't feel like listening to it again at all i'll give it a strong 2.
If I was a massive Beatles fan, maybe I'd like this more. But if I'm wanting to hear music like this, I'll listen to the real deal. I thought some of the later Bee Gees stuff was cool but this record is just straight up boring Beatles to me. It doesn't help that it looks like this record came out much after Beatlemania - what's new about this?
I don't know what is so special about Odessa. I love the Bee Gees, but this album doesn't showcase very much about them. Their vocals are what make them stand out, but so frequently their voices aren't being used to their full ability. The beautiful instrumentals were the highlight of this album (and were perhaps the only highlight on a subpar album), but what a shame the Bee Gees' vocals wasn't the focus. I heard similarities with the Beatles, which isn't surprising for 1969 release, but then that leaves me wondering how original the Bee Gees' first sound was.
Another Bee Gees album on this project, and yet again, absolutely zero disco Bee Gees. This really does seem like a crime. Their non-disco music is just SO generic, whereas their disco music is just so iconic. I am just going to copy/paste the majority of my review from the previous album, because my feelings are mostly the same and I really do feel passionate about this: There is no disco era Bee Gees on this project. What an incredibly ridiculous miss. Do yourself a favor and go out on your own and check out these additional listenings for a better taste of the Bee Gees: -Saturday Night Fever soundtrack -Main Course -Spirits Having Flown -Hell, even "Greatest" is a worthy endeavor of all of their hits (containing, of course, their DISCO songs, NOT songs from the albums found on 1001). I'm all for some music history on this project, but if you want to experience something that truly changed the landscape of music at the time, something that should be experienced by anyone taking on a listening project like this, it's Bee Gees' disco music, not this. This album could have been sung by virtually any other soft rock act of the time. Disco is what set Bee Gees apart and made them so special.
When I see a Bee Gees album this morning, I was expecting a fun disco album, not this. Didnt realise they had a 60’s sound, I feel it’s inferior to other 60’s album, so not convinced about its place on this list.
Most definitely not their best effort.
There were some nice moments but for the most part its 60's mush. I don't think the Bee Gees would've been remembered so much if not for the 70's.
I enjoy a good concept album, but the concept of this one kind of goes away or at least is pretty unnoticeable after a little while. It also sounds nothing like what I would expect a Bee Gees album to sound like, and they're not playing to their strengths. Some of the songs sound like straight Beatles rip-offs. Just kind of a miss overall. Wishing it were a "classic" Bee Gees sound. Favorite Song(s): Edison, I Laugh in Your Face
nah. unmememorability in a minor key
An unfinished concept album, without concept, that tries really hard to be a Beatles album. 2/5
It was better than the other Bee Gees album I had which was terrible. This is a bit too long and a lot of the songs didn't really do much for me.
I was not even aware of this album and it wasn’t “my cup of tea” but kudos to them for trying. I prefer my Bee Gees in disco attire.
Too slow
Lost interest pretty early on. Just not my bag.
Man, this was boring. I never knew the Bee Gees did rock music before the disco era, but boy am I glad they left it.
Boring!
To think they had 5 albums before this, and then 8 years later came Saturday Night Fever. That gives a whole new meaning to never giving up and just “staying alive”.
I’m not sure if I was listening to an ambitious yet failed attempt to try and be The Beatles, or the Queen’s coronation…or Spinal Tap which for once is not a good thing. I can appreciate the variety, but this thing is all over the map. Maybe the mysterious lost ship should remain lost.
Snooooooooze fest. Seems like Bee Gees needed another decade to marinate. Appreciation of the musicianship is getting me up to a 2 but I didn’t enjoy it and took everything not to skip through (although in full honesty I did). Also felt like there were a lot of “influences” in this that were more of wannabe Beatles songs. And Marley Purt Drive is the same song as The Weight, right?
This isn’t The Bee Gees I want… it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be after the first track. But cmon man. 2.25/5
Ei. Bee Geesiltä pitää kuunnella discoa. Ei tätä! 2/5
Not for me
This isn't Saturday Night Fever, what the fuck?
Proof that concept albums aren't always good.
I was looking forward to a bit of funky bee gees instead I got some experimental bee gees. I think I prefer the funky bee gees. Way too long as an album also. Low 2.
This is definitely conjecture, but after reading about this album I think the only reason it was included here was because it almost tore apart the band. No 70's Bee Gees, the exposure to disco white people get looks very different. Regarding the actual music, it's a typical late 60's slog. Virtually nothing stands out to me here, aside from the vocal work, but it's just a reminder of what's to come. This is a sub-par Bee Gees record, compared to themselves. It's nothing to write home about in the genre it exists in, either. The album is annoyingly long, too. Just a slog to get through.
I liked the orchestral songs!
Not my fave, was too theatrical in my humble opinion I felt like I was at a play
not my favorite. i can hear the beegees sound, but no particular song on this album strikes me.
I've never been a super big Bee Gees fan, but their disco stuff is orders of magnitude better than whatever this was. I respect the ambition to make a concept album but...you take big swings and sometimes you miss. It's like Neil Diamond and Broadway but schmaltzier. And so long. And boring. I maybe liked a song or two, but I can't even remember what they were. 2/5
This is really weird. Usually when I say that, I mean it as a positive. But in this case it’s just… odd. I only know the BeeGees as the Saturday Night Fever guys so was taken aback by the country-and-western-influenced 70s-pop-sounding historical concept album thing. Songs about shipwrecks and Edison. An instrumental “international anthem”!? Wtf. A sound like the Monkees crossed with Willie Nelson trying to make Sergeant Peppers… This album was released in 1969 and I’m feeling the effects of the concept album era here - but without the psychedelic atmosphere, just the grandiosity. I don’t know what to make of it. Sometimes I was resisting the urge to shut it off (it’s taken me several attempts to listen to it), sometimes it was… alright. Anyway, I’ve listened to it but I won’t be coming back.
DID NOT EXPECT A LOVE LETTER TO THOMAS EDISON! In the end this wasn’t as bad as I thought but not great still. 2.05 per track
Not what I expected, pre disco Bee Gees
Weirdly dramatic in a boring way
Just because your album has an hour long concept doesn't make it less boring.
I was full of enthusiasm at the beginning of the album, but ultimately it is a kind of very very light version of The Kinks. It's like easy-listening-baroque-pop. Like... The Carpenters are more brutal than that.
not the funky bee gees i was hoping for :(
I can never listen to the Bee Gees without thinking of Kenny Everett and his skits. The Bee Gees kit and mass of chew sets just still make me laugh. I thought this started off quite well, but then everything was a little one dimensional and didn’t seem to go anywhere. I think they are good songwriters and craftsmen in their way, but after early promise, I lost interest. And it went on way too long. I’m going back to Kenny Everett.
This didn't work for me. I don't think it's a coincidence that their later music had the biggest impact of their career. Some bands can pull off bloated concept albums. The Bee Gees are not one of them. Melody Fair was ok.
There's some decent songs on here, but nothing outstanding. As a whole too long and boring
Sometimes reasonably enjoyable. Other times borderline unlistenable. A few times the lyrics made me shake my head because WTF were they trying to say or accomplish?
Very frog coded album, no I will not elaborate
Here The Bee Gees are still developing. Pre-disco; when I liked them better. Some good songs - some not so much. I like “First of May”. “A” for effort.
An album where they sing very high in their vocal ranges without popping into their disco era falsettos. Not great, but pretty interesting.
What the hell was the point of that?
bit boring imo - 2.5
Some of the music is alright when they're not trying to be the Beatles, but dear god are the vocals annoying. The Gibbs' voices is like a mosquito in my ear. And it goes on for over an hour.
What did I just listen to.
This isn't it. I think most view the Bee Gees as a fun and energetic group with excellent falsettos and harmonies and you can dance. This album is a slog. Long and meandering. Not a single song was memorable. The high points sound slightly Beatles-adjacent without the fun. No thanks to this album.
Unusual. Very unusual.
Kinda surprised they made it as far as disco on this evidence I'm not even sure what this album wants to be. Apparently it started life as a concept album about a ship that sank but that didn't stick. A lot of it sounds like the Beatles, there's one song that I thought sounded like "The Weight", and a random square dance?? And two orchestral instrumentals in the second half. It's all a bit "throw mud at the wall and see what sticks". Tempted to give 1 star but I think it's just about better than that
This was not what I was expecting. There were some songs I didn’t hate, but also a lot that I did.
It all sounds really nice, but it doesn’t really capture the attention I suppose. The writing is lacking, it just doesn’t meet the level of auditory beauty.
I can see why people like it, but it just isn't my genre.
As an extremely casual Bee Gees fan, I haven't heard any songs made by them other than "Stayin' Alive" and similar. So to my big surprise, Odessa was a big jump in genres, almost lie a trip from Earth to... Earth, but somewhere else on the globe. Unfortunately, while their biggest hits are hits for a reason, I never heard of this album probably because it's just too boring and mediocre at best. I'm very disappointed and I won't be exploring any more of Bee Gees discography, just in case.
This was rubbish! Doesn't sound like you'd expect a Bee Gees album to in any way, it's a 3rd tier prog album. There is not a single song here I'd want to revisit. Not unlistenable, but not in any way interesting. 2/5.
Weird as fuck.
If there's one thing that this endeavour has taught me... it's that the Bee Gees stole a living... especially Robin with his strangled goat impression
Nothing really great about this album, but it is so much better than Trafalgar, which I have previously listened to on this list. There are a couple of songs that are at least passable as good music. I kind of liked "Marley Purt Drive". 2/5 Won't listen again
Baroque Pop which leaves me unimpressed.
Not much to say about this. It's not my kind of music or at least it wasn't hitting the right spots in my brain. Though it was a very surprising to hear Baba Blacksheep as the starting point lol
While better than Trafalgar this still blows. Can't believe a successful movie soundtrack created one of the most overrated acts in history. Oh wait, yes I can
mom: "we have The Beatles at home" The Beatles at home: mange af sangene er egentligt fine, bare... uinspireret vel? ret tydeligt at deres styrker ligger andre steder. Pet Sounds/Sgt. Pepper it is not
I quite enjoyed the 3 albums preceding this, but here they take the morbid melancholy to extreme lengths in every possible way, which makes the final listening experience of this double album a bit of an uphill trek.
Melody Fair
A lot more southern rock influenced than I expected. Not terrible, but this isn’t the band I know or expected.
I'll put this in the same bucket as Trafalgar. Not the worst album I've heard but far from the best Bee Gees album and far from the most important album from 1969. Why did we get these guys imitating the Byrds imitating the Beatles instead of Saturday Night Fever? 4/10
Just very boring and uninspired
A strange album, I really enjoyed some tracks but yet another double album that could have been a good single album Nice to hear the Bee Gees before disco
Not my cup of tea. Incredibly boring.
more warble than groove on this one.
It was a weird album for the Bee Gees. They were doing their typical funk music. It seemed like they were trying to emulate the Beatles or other pop music. I will round up but it was close.
I gotta be honest, I had no idea Bee Gees did anything non-disco and let's just say thank god they found disco. This is like a bad mix of The Who and The Beatles.
I guess this is the Bee Gees before most of the world knew them. When they were still a band who sounded more like the Beatles - before the disco Bee Gees. Nothing here really stuck with me. Not bad, just nothing I'll be coming back to.
Usually I'm more of a fan of this type of stuff, but it was a little forgetable.
this album mainly exists to say "did you know the beegees were a folk rock band before doing disco." its not a bad album but its way too long and feels is so boring at some points
The harmonies are all there. The choons are most definitely NOT
Background music and a very easy listen
I am familiar with some of the Bee Gees pre-disco era and some of it is really good. Odessa is a concept album that is an overindulgent mess with directionless songs, a concept no one cares about and a performance that is schmaltzy and cheesy at times. A double album to boot, there is so much filler and with an opening track that is horrible, it sets the expectations low. Granted, there are a few good songs sprinkled into the mix, especially the Beatle-esque pop ones and a couple songs that resemble a poor man's Kinks attempt. I dislike disco (I attended a couple "disco sucks" rallies in the day), but I would actually prefer Saturday Night Fever (ugh!) or Spirits Having Flown and maybe even the Sgt. Peppers soundtrack...okay, it's not that bad!
I like the Bee Gees but this is pretty bland stuff. Nothing stands out to be honest.
I did not care for this one. I like sort of knowing the musical breadth of the Bee Gees, but wasn't a fan.
Boring. Hard pass. It makes me wonder how they got so popular in the states.
What the hell did I just listen to? I mean it was made by competent people but it wasn't good. I know disco came after but oh boy did they sound better then.
Honestly very bland Beatles aping pop maybe worth it for a few tracks but this is way to damn long
Much like "Trafalgar" I don't get the pre-disco Bee Gees. A bit better than "Trafalgar", but still not it. 2.5/5
What a weird album.
Wayyyy different than I expected. I'm notvsure why I must listen to this album as part of a list everyone should listen to
Each song felt like a different class in school, and I’m done with school!
The songs themselves didn’t seem to bad. The melody was nice but oh my gosh their voices are annoying. I couldn’t finish the album because of it.
It's all very soft and breezy for the most part, but there's nothing really standing out, and it IS a bit weird. I'm usually a sucker for a violin undercurrent, but this was just a bit bland overall. Especially when you compare it against some of their other bigger (ballad-type) hits - these just can't hold a candle to them. I can't say I'm a fan. Marley Purt Drive was nice though.
Struggled to get into this…
One of the most pretentious, overwrought and frankly misogynistic records I’ve heard. Crazy these guys change course and put out a 5 star masterpiece as a movie soundtrack nearly a decade after this.
I'm having a hard time believing that any fan of the Bee Gees is like "this is the s**t right here." There are a couple times where you can feel they are trying to sound like the Beatles, but more important. But the rest of the time it's just... bad. And boring. "I Laugh In Your Face"... um, ok? 2 stars is just... being generous, ok? Wow.
didn’t finish. it wasn’t bad but entirely too long - perhaps just not my thing. i feel like they couldn’t choose a sound and stuck to it.
I guess I just didn't need a concept album from the Bee Gees - it felt disjointed and they leaned into the vibrato too much at times. There were a handful of cool songs, very Beatles/Sgt Pepper's-esque but lost amid the rest
This is not good. I appreciate that it is very much of its time, but even so, it's barely listenable. They wouldn't have got a recording contract on the strength of this material in any decade but the sixties. There's the occasional familiar flash - echoes of 'Massechusetts' for example, but also a ridiculous rewrite of The Band's 'The Weight'. Laughably grandiose whilst seemingly lacking in self-awareness. So bad, it's almost funny.
big shrug from me bud
I can appreciate what they were trying to do, but i don't really think they succeed. Certainly an interesting experimentation by Bee Gees, but that doesn't compare to similar albums of that decade, when psychedelic rock was all the rage.
An unexpected album from the Bee Gees. It's not bad in itself, it just feels average. I cannot recognize the distinct Bee Gees sound that makes their music fun and enjoyable (even when the lyrics are sad). The result is just another "generic pop" album.
Felt like a different band and never really hooked me
Best Song: I Laugh In Your Face. For some reason I like the mean-spirited nature of this one. The gang vocals also make it sound like a very theatrical form of bullying. Worst Song: Black Diamonds. Nobody asked for that vocal warble. Overall: Maybe the longest hour-long album I've heard. Boy did this take a while to end. Sure there's some slick songwriting throughout, but does it ever feel like it has a heart? It feels like any potentially interesting imperfection was polished out ages ago, and for some reason they're still polishing. There might actually be more polish than substance now.
You sure this is the bee gees?
Meh underwhelming and a little too long
This one just wasn’t particularly interesting to listen to. Nothing was really offensively bad but nothing was too good either. A lot of it sounded bland to me and nothing about it sparked my interest.
Me: Mom, can we buy The Beatles? Mom: No, we have The Beatles at home! The Beatles at home:
A bit of a slog this one. Not bad but not inspiring either. Enjoyed the orchestral parts.
Pretty bad sorry Bee Gees.
The Bee Gees back catalogue is a lot more varied than most people would imagine. This double semi-concept album is half Beatles, half Beach Boys, and half Bob Dylan in style. It's like a folky, harmony-heavy, Sargent Pepper, but nowhere near as good. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Lamplight Date listened: 12/03/23
The Bee Gees go Beatles
Definitely not what I expected when I saw this was Bee Gees. The music isn't bad but I wish there was more of a variety in sound, because most songs sound similar. Of course though, amazing voice. Fave track(s): Suddenly, Lamplight
Why?
This album had me so confused start to finish. I checked 3 times within the first song that the artist really was The Bee Gees. Song about having an orphanage full of 35 kids really threw me for a loop, followed by an ode to Thomas Edison. Then a symphony to close it all out. Idk what to say about all this but I guess 2.7/5
I melodin till migos bad and boujee ”My beegees bad and boring”
This album dragged on too long by at least 30 minutes. It also seemed all over the place - the instrumental songs wtf? - and didn't draw me in at all. Not great.
Not impressed by these talented guys.
если было бы не так долго поставил бы три, лучшие треки почти все те, где нет вокала, Bee Gees в роли диско королей звучат круче, хоть и кринжовее, у каждого свое предназначение, у меня например поставить 2 т.к. от Одессы здесь только название Лучшие треки: With All Nations, First of May
I don’t know what to do with this album after hearing it. Do I hate it? No. Do I like it? No. Is this culturally significant in some way? Idk. Is this an important album in the band’s career? Idk. It’s just here.
Decent set by the Bee Gees. Didn't rock my world but pleasant
Just all over the place. Country pop, orchestra, 60s psychedelic, in a supposed rock concept album about a ship? Yeah okay. A weird ass album.
I can see why the Bee Gees got some props for doing a sort of departure concept album, but at the same time I didn't particularly get into it. It's hard to square it with the rest of their work, so it came across to me as a bit of an indulgence. I can see why it had such a tumultuous history and reception.
I don’t know why this generator has given me 3 British concept albums from the ‘60s in a row (Tommy, Village Green Preservation Society, and now this). This is definitely my least favorite of the three, enough for me to give it a 2. It’s not that I disliked it, but I have no idea why it’s here or what the appeal is. Also, it’s kind of long. Shorter than Tommy, but still long. In retrospect, maybe
Good but not my jam
It's the craziest thing, but I woke up this morning hoping that I would get to listen to a dour Bee Gees album about the loss of a fictional ship in the 19th century. I am, of course, being sarcastic, as I could never want that, and I don't see how anyone else could want that either. ' The thing that has surprised me about the two Bee Gees albums that I've gotten on this list (both from their 60s albums) is the joylessness of the music put out by this group I always associated with upbeat disco music. I would describe their music as being similar to the feeling of standing at the jukebox at a bar on a busy night and reaching into your pocket looking for a few quarters so you can listen to your favorite song, but instead you find that your pocket is full of cold oatmeal. Like, sure it's disappointing, but in a very intriguing way. Okay, I was kind of joking before, but this album really is very dull. On lots of songs I can hear the influences on the song, but I can't figure out why they wanted to make the song in the first place. It really feels like they're not trying very hard to make the album interesting. I'm only halfway through at this point, and I don't foresee a future in which I get all the way through all of these songs. I'm honestly glad that this ship was lost. The only problem is that the master tapes for this album weren't on it 2/5
Meh.
There were some moments I enjoyed but for the most part this wasn’t for me Album Cover: I like the colors but that’s about it 2/5
Sounds like the Bee Gees were trying to be the Beatles
I want to like this more but it's boring :(
Date cancelled, good hang though, what a tv show…
It is a common belief that most artists go through two major stages: copying-what-everybody-else-does stage, and coming-up-with-something-original-or-groundbreaking stage. Of course, not every artist went to the second stage. That being said, it is clear that while Bee Gees did reach the second stage, "Odessa" showcases them at the first stage. Good name, promising opener, but ultimately a pompous '60s rock pastiche. Hardly a surprise. After all, they're disco stars, not concept album weavers.
Te zoet
Kwam niet veel verder dan de eerste paar tracks, maar dat was wel voldoende ook geloof ik...
Wat een pretentieuze, zoetsappige bagger is dit! Niet te doen!
Ik snap wel dat ze met hun kopstem-disco succesvoller zijn geworden. Ik vond hier niet zoveel aan. 13 in een dozijn jaren 60 bandje.
There are some good intentions on this record. I understand where most of it comes from and I can even sense, what Bee Gees were trying to accomplish. But it just doesn't work. You can feel the concept album that this was supposed to become in the title track and the instrumentals. But instead of a grandiose concept Odessa is strewn with half finished and often lazy songs without much weight behind them. It's obvious that there was turmoil behind the scenes when this was recorded. I truly think that Bee Gees could have done something great here channeling all that energy. It's just not the case at all.
This one threw me for a loop. Would have not picked this as the BeeGees based on the more recent/popular stuff.
This strangely sounds NOTHING like what I think of when I think of the Bee Gees.
Interesting folk rock/slightly psychedelic album. I listened to it twice thinking it would grow on me. It did not.
I love The Bee Gees, but I did not like this. Concept albums didn’t work for them.
Not my cuppa T
Didn't know the BeeGees did epic concept albums. Don't think I needed to know. Soaring sounds and odd subject matter. Not something I want to hear again, but glad I was able to hear this side of a band I thought was just disco pop.
Not really for me.
Frekar flatt sixtís albúm. Bítlaáhrif á einstaka stað, sinfó inn á milli og ekki mikið um hinn einkennandi víbrató Gibb-bræðra. Meh.. gerir ekkert mikið fyrir mig.
Ugh, not a fan. Contemplated not even completing a single playthrough several times, but sallied forth in the spirit of the 1001. I guess it's impressive how un-mixed all of the instruments feel at times; everything sounds very compartmentalized. I also would not have placed any of these songs as Bee Gees songs if I'd heard them randomly in the wild; I really only know them for their disco singles.
Well that was odd. Not at all what I was expecting and at first I didn't like it but then it grew on me. Although more because I found it funny than anything else which I doubt they were going for....
definitely sounds like an early 60s concept album, influencing the beatles? strings, melodic singing, basic beats. the whole third quarter is big flowy crap.
Interesting, has its moments
Dosadno i dugo.
Nope
I'm sorry, but who even is this band? The cognitive dissonance I have trying to connect these songs with the group I know for Staying Alive is unbearable. This is not the Bee Gees I know or want. If I'm gunna go Bee Gees it's gunna be disco or nothing. There's no fun here. It's like they're trying to repurpose Brian Wilson's exquisite sadness for themselves and doing a piss poor job of it.
Not good. Boring and an hour long, the worst combination. False advertising. This is absolutely not a concept album. There's one song about the "lost ship of Veronica" that's supposed to be the main motif, and then it's just random Beatlesesque love songs and the occasional yeehaw farm music for some reason. (And no, "Seven Seas Symphony" doesn't count. You can name that song "Fartdingle" and it loses any semblance of a connection to the concept). Very close to being a 1/5, but there's like two songs here that I genuinely really liked. "Suddenly" and "Seven Seas Symphony". These guys found their place in music later on. I can't take that one 8-minute long epic progressive pop track on this album seriously because I keep hearing the falsetto "STAYIN' ALIVE, STAYIN' ALIVE" in the back of my mind. Sorry, I don't know why I wrote an entire college essay about this one. I should have just said "Meh, not for me" and moved on with my day.
not as bad as i thought it would be but still, that voice is unlistenable when it is in focus
I do like the beegees, but this is a bit bland for me. No real stand out tracks or moments
This list did the Brothers Gibb wrong. What do they have against the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack? Instead, we get the Brothers Gibb back when they were trying to be the Hollies making their own Sgt. Pepper. And it works about as well as you'd think it would, which is to say, not at all. There isn't a Barry Gibb falsetto note to be found. Instead, there's too much Robin on lead vocals and multiple instrumental songs. I'm all for honoring the pre-disco incarnation of the Bee Gees, but this clearly isn't it.
I typically enjoy concept albums. This felt like a Beatles knockoff. The songs weren’t interesting and I wouldn’t listen again.
Who knew the people behind Saturday Night Fever could make such a boring album.
This was just largely not enjoyable at all. Not "hurt my ears" terrible, and with the occasional likeable song (Suddenly), but very much not worth the time investment in my opinion.
Not my favourite album on this list
Weird mix of things that I wasn’t expecting. Probably won’t be returning to it.
Для реднеков подпивасов! Возможно и прорывное звучание для шестидесятых, но не для тридцатых!
Kind of a B-version of the Beatles and Kinks - tries to be anglophile-twee in the vein of Eleanor Rigby / Village Green, but the Gibbs take themselves too seriously to be able to do it honestly - don't just take my word for it - listen to the excessive vibrato throughout the entire album. But, hey, it was an interesting journey, albeit a little let down, as Bee Gees generally deliver. They showed promise but the Beatles were writing better songs, the Kinks were more fun, the Who did better concept albums and the Beach Boys were more mind blowing virtuosos - this album tried to do all of those things, and well, it didn't quite hit the mark.
Meh
Vond ik niet zo spectaculair
Interesting concept classical album. Literally put me back to sleep
OK, but not great. I didn't realize the Bee Gees were like this before disco. Kind of like a cross between the Beatles and the Beach Boys.
Ik vind de bekende hits van Bee Gees geweldig. Als je met die veronderstelling aan het album begint, dan klinkt het in eerste instantie erg raar. Helaas wordt het ook niet echt veel beter. Dit is niet wat ik ken van de Bee Gees. Misschien voor de liefhebber juist goed, maar voor mij gewoon ronduit vervelend. **
Expected something different.
Boring and too long. No wonder they made the pivot to disco.
I feel sorry for pop fans in 1969 because this album is boring. I was expecting to dance. Not offensive, but zzzzzzzzzzzz…
När det gäller Bee Gees går kopplingen otroligt snabbt till "Stayin Alive" och det är väl inte direkt något jag lägger högst upp i min musikhylla. Men det här albumet gav lite av ett annat intryck. Jag tycker bitvis det är väldigt lätt att höra att de är samtida med 4 av mina favoritgrabbar: Paul, John, George och Ringo. På samma gång är det rätt olikt dock, men jag vet inte riktigt vad det beror på. Jag tycker det är ett helt klart godkänd musiktimme jag får av Odessa, men det är nog inte så många låtar jag tar med mig. Med vissa album är det så, även om upplevelsen som helhet är fin så finns det ibland inget som sticker ut tillräckligt mycket för att bära med sig det. Det är några låtar som sticker ut dock. Där albumet lite grann går ifrån sin identitet och blir något annat men som ändå passar in rätt väl. Albumets sista spår "The British Opera" är helt instrumental förutom en kör som står och gapar, vilket blir väldigt kraftfullt och mysigt för att ta ett album i hamn. Det är nog något med just kören också som får mig att dra kopplingar till Pink Floyd, fint. "Seven Seas Symphony" är även det en instrumental låt, den här gången är det dock stråkarna som skapar stämningen, även om det finns körsång här också. Men ingen av dessa låtar känns så malplacerade trots att känslan är att de kanske borde göra det. Bäst: Vet inte.
Unsurprisingly this wasn't good. Some of the music was tolerable but the wobbly voice was awful
I usually like Bee Gees, but this just doesn't click with me. I'm sad about that.
Finding it hard to articulate why I didn't like this. I hoped it would be some bee gees bangers (they must have some right?) but I guess it wasn't...
I have respect for the surprising versatility of the Bee Gees, but i didn't much enjoy listening to it.
Pre-disco Beegees has a different flavor to it, with a lot of tracks here having a Kinks/Beatles (even Stones-y) vibe about them. But I just don't enjoy the style of singing, which sounds off key and tuneless. Not a fan of this one.
2.5
Hui, da hüpft das Schlagerfanherz und tanzt mit Abba Ringelreihen. Mit einem Auge nach den Walker Brothers schielend, mit dem anderen die Monkees genau im Blick, bums!- schon ist man vor den Pfosten gerannt, so vernehmlich dass sogar Lennon/McCartney kurz rüberschauen. Manches ist ja schon schön* auf diesem Megamix aus Folk, Orchesterschmock, jugendfreier Psychedelik und Ziegenlauten, aber ... ja, ach nee. Udo Jürgens hat mich auch nie überzeugt. *Melody Fair, Whisper Whisper
bad
Nothing will ever make me like their voices.
Huh, before disco. Nice but not for me
I yawned more than I expected too.
i thought the 'love theme' strings were played out and the theme of the disappearing ship from 1899 didn't really seem to maintain any through line. some of the lyrics were progressive and they did seem to be a bit adventurous with a track here and there but largely it was boring as hell. i don't have the desire to listen to any of the tracks ever again.
eh, some special orchestral stuff, didn't expect that
It's quite weird. Psychedelic BeeGees. Sounded like a soundtrack, decent vibe but not much stood out.
Hmmmm bit weird. The opening track was the most interesting, then got quickly boring. I love a bit of orchestral strings, but this was all over the shop - I don't think it fit this album at all. Lyrics were definitely sub par...
Zzzz
4
2.5 | Resulta que los Bee Gees tenían friegos de discos antes de hacer disco en los 70's. Resulta que hacían pop sesentero y de repente les dieron delirios por hacer una obra maestra de disco conceptual opera rock extraño. Resulta que es un disco... que de verdad esperaba que me gustara más de lo que me gustó. Cuando inició y escuche música que para nada era lo que esperaba agarró mi atención. Esa primera canción mostraba promesa, un concepto para el disco, un sonido especialmente sesentero cercano a lo que hacía Joan Baez casi música protesta en sus coros. El problema es que hay canciones buenas como Lamplight u Odessa pero el disco termina sin saber qué es.... Hay pop, música barroca, cantos gregorianos, country, unas voces con reverb crecido al 1000%, canciones que suenan a copia carbón de los Beatles. No sabe en qué se va a asentar el disco, líricamente termina de la misma manera medio sin pies ni cabeza; lo que inicia como una idea de... un barco en el siglo XIX? supongo? pasa a letras ya casi irracionales, brincando por una canción sobre EDISON!? y una canción instrumental bastante decente... Es un disco... "bloated" Larguísimo para lo que ofrece. Siento que había muchas buenas intenciones, hay cosas que me gustaron mucho pero le falta mucho, se termina sintiendo como muchas canciones pegadas de distintos lados, copiando cosas que otros grupos ya estaban haciendo mejor con esperanza de gritarle al mundo que podían hacer música profunda. Creo lo podría volver a escuchar y quizá después de varias veces le agarraría más cariño pero la verdad si ese es el requisito es que algo esta no del todo bien con tu proyecto. Inicié escuchando lo que creí iba a ser un 4 y se quedo en el intento.
Bah. Beatles rip off mixed with musical soundtrack.
Fine but whatever
boring
A bit Beatles and a bit warbler singing in parts
My only knowledge of Bee Gees is their disco stuff. This seems like completely typical late 60s/early 70s easy listening rock/folk. It does not do much for me. It's not offensive, but it moves me not. Vocals are fine, instruments are fine, but I'm completely ambivalent. 2.5 down to 2.
I wasn’t expecting something so orchestral. Man the vibrato is a lot to take
MISSÄ DISCO?!
Marley Putt Drive was a semi bright spot in a dull album.
Staying alive pretty much sums up my experience listening to this album
Meni aika huomaamatta ohi, en kuunnellu toista kertaa. Aika mitäänsanomaton, mut kuitenki musaa
Heavily, heavily indebted to The Beatles and what sounds like late 60s early 70s pop music (lush strings, etc). Opening track has a hint of prog-rock, but it's not really shown the rest of the album. Not the Bee Gees I'm familiar with, and I prefer the Bee Gees I'm familiar with. Favorite tracks: "Marley Purt Drive", "Lamplight"
This is artsy nonsense.
Oh, I hate it. I couldn't finish it. The wobbly voices are putting me off.
We have Bee Gees at home
Sounds like they stole it from the final songs of every musical ever written. I don't like musicals!
If you are going to listen to a song about a shipwreck, don't listen to Odessa. There are better options. I could have lived my entire life happy and content believing the Bee Gees never released an album prior to 1974. This was terrible.
The middle isn’t too bad, but the rest is terrible.
Not another Bee Gees album! To make matters worse, this is a double album! This suffers from the same issues that their other record on the list has. They are still trying to sound like the Beatles, but miss out on what made that group so timeless. This is soppy and indulgent. Robin Gibb's voice is so irritating to my ears. The overarching story revolves around a lost fictional ship and it is not compelling in anyway whatsoever. They have grand ideas for this concept, but this is proof that being ambitious is not always a good thing. Their non-disco output is just not any good and it is baffling why the stuff that they are known for is left off in favour for this inoffensive guff.
Where are my sweet disco boys? This is so boring and derivative, I really did not enjoy a moment of this album other than comparing the different songs to other artists who they were ripping from. First album in a long time where I do feel like this should immediately be removed from the list.
This is horrible, and I love the Bee Gees - I still remember where I was when I heard Mo died. Super shame that none of their output from 1975-1979 is on this album list. or heck, Gold is a classic and has their "actually good" 60s output on it
Put me out of my misery
Yet another Bee Gees album from the generator. Baltic Sea mentioned!!! But at what cost, this is so damn bad. I don't know if I got the wrong idea of what kind of music Bee Gees make from all their disco hits but both their albums on the list are just... bad. 1/5
This is the first album in this challenge I actually called it quits on halfway through. I thought You'll Never See My Face Again and Marley Purt Drive were fine, and that's the best thing I can say about this. Odessa is long and plodding, Edison is just fucking weird, and everything else is absolutely forgettable. Bee Gees would go on to have several hits, but there's a reason this weird concept album is mostly just forgotten.
The fact that no disco music from the Bee Gees is included in this book, and yet, this is, says a lot about what the book wishes to celebrate. I've heard lots of concept albums in my life. A few sincere and emotional moments aside, it's perhaps one of the most painful, pointless, schmalzy things I've ever heard. Not sure what I SUPPOSED to like about it! What did the band want to achieve? Otherwise literally led to the band's breakup! Ego stroking at a max. Prime example of style over substance. Like the Gilded Age in music form. Like a 2000 dollar burgers covered in caviar and gold leaf TikTok trend. Thank God for punk rock.
Awful, pretentious, boring, faux epic guff. What’s worse is that it makes me question the high pitched voices of the disco era Bee Gees. Was it all put on?
Ik verwachtte uiteraard weer disco, maar ik kreeg iets wat leek op de saaiere nummers van The Beach Boys. Ik heb hem over 2 dagen verdeeld, maar zelfs dan was het wat taai om er doorheen te komen. Dat er een soort musical in verwerkt zit hielp voor mij niet mee, het verhaal kon me in deze vorm gestolen worden. Ik weet niet zo goed wat ik hiermee moet. Ik heb op deze lijst slechtere albums gehad, ik heb irritantere albums gehad, maar godverdomme wat vind ik dit album saai zeg. Liever dit dan Astrud (goh), maar ik kon na 10 minuten al niet meer wachten tot het voorbij was. Dit is totaal niet aan mij besteed. 1 ster.
Should've just stuck to making disco music. I admire the scope of this project and the instrumentation shows a lot of skill but for me there isn't much meat on the bone. 'Whisper Whisper' has an interesting beat switch and there are a couple other melody lines within other songs that I would've picked out if not for the fact that it was all very boring in the end. Felt like it flew by though so I'm maybe that's a plus? 17 tracks but it doesn't really overstay its welcome at just over an hour in length. Definetly didn't need to hear this before I died. 1/5
The one thing that made the Bee Gees interesting is completely absent here.
Pre-disco Bee Gees. This is crap. It's almost like a parody of Moody Blues or other psychedlic Prog rock. It has an unsettling amount of reverb over pretty much everything except for the guitar. If 'This is Spinal Tap' had a bit in the bands history showing how they went from "Flower People" to "Stonehenge" it would sound like this.
Expectation: Ooh a BeeGees album. Fun! Reality: The BeeGees made a really boring concept album in the 1960s. Ew.
Why is this album on this list?
Bad. Somehow worse than their disco, which I didn't think was possible.
So, before they were a Disco phenomenon, they were worse? I'll stick with The Bay City Rollers.
I did not realize I could hate the Bee Gees more
This is both one of the worst and also one of the least interesting things I’ve ever heard
When I think of the Bee Gees I think of some upbeat cool stuff. This was not that this was like folk music really bad folk music. One out of five.
First thought: Oh cool, Bee Gees. Disco can be fun. Saw the date of release: This is before disco, but maybe it'll be okay Listening to the album: uggghhh I'd expect to hear this in a dentist's waiting room.
I'm 6 tracks deep and this is dull. I'll persevere for a little bit more. I've made it through a further 2 tracks, and if anything it's getting worse. It's a surprise because the music the BeeGees turned out a few years later was really good. I suppose you have to go through evolution to see improvements! Anyway, I can't take anymore of this specific album of theirs, so I'm fucking off.
They really sing the hell out of these songs
Bee-Gees country ho-down. No thanks
Barry: Hey Paul can I copy your homework Paul: Yeah just change the words a little so no one notices This album is so shamelessly derivative I can’t think of an excuse to give it more than one star. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I will give credit where it’s due for the Bee Gee’s disco tracks but they will ring a little more hollow now to be sure.
It seems like this was supposed to be a concept album but 90% of the songs have no relation (lyrically or sonically) to the concept and they aren’t even catchy or interesting. It’s like the shittiest possible version of the white album.
Sometimes too boring, sometimes too avant garde. Not my cup of tea.
I could not have been less excited for this one and it somehow exeeded those expectations. The most boring era of the Bee Gees when everyone around them was doing crazy and inventive things. I can't really recall any of what I listened to since it wasn't really memorable. Whisper Whisper was ok, but a bit weak for a pop song in 1969. Wholly forgettable, hard to listen through without wanting to do somwthing else.
I knew the Bee Gees made music that was different from their disco records, but I wasn't expecting this. It's very weird and pretty dreary. It's kind of a weird mix of styles and a loose "concept" album. I'm struggling a bit with Robin's voice. The combination of the piercing shrill tone quality with the intense vibrato is a little much for me (especially Black Diamond and Lamplight). And what's up with these random "symphonies"? What's the purpose of them, especially since the Bee Gees didn't perform on any of them (with the exception of Maurice playing piano on Seven Seas Symphony)? I guess they were trying to make some sort of "opera" originally, but them not being involved in the making of those songs is strange to me. I found many of these songs to be a little too languid for my taste. There's no doubt from listening to this album that the Bee Gees are talented musicians, but I prefer their disco hits.
It’s not really my cup of tea. In fact, I hate it.
nope
Not for me. His voice gave me a headache.
I did not enjoy this, I found it annoying and had to keep pausing it for breaks, why is it so long?! I really disliked the weird nursery rhyme type songs (melody fair for example) Not what I was expecting from a Bee Gees album.
I don't want to be the person who doesn't like when a favorite musician or group explores other sounds. Whether the exploration leads to big hits or just is an exercise in creativity, it should be supported. So why did this album fucking piss me off? This was before the Bee Gees were huge in disco but, holy shit this was terrible. This Beatles-esque bad idea was a horrible listen. There was nothing that made this interesting. It actually made me angry. Why is this album on this list? Dying and not having to listen to this album is a good thing. I envy those who don't know this album exists. Stay happy people. Joy is not knowing this piece of waste.
meh
Painful.
Musical torture
I just … it’s a really knock off. No.
what the fuck was that
Maybe the Beatles made it look easy. Stack up some vocal harmonies, throw some orchestral arrangements on your songs and you too can have your own *Sgt. Pepper's*. However, as ambitious as it might seem on the surface, *Odessa* has no real magic, no spark and no innovation. It's dreary and earnest (not a great combination) and lives in the shadow of much better, more free spirited pop of the late 60s.
Let's face it, 60's Bee Gees is overwrought miserable dirge pop and this double (fucking hell, double) album is no different. They need more cocaine and tight trousers and luckily the 70s would give it to them. God this album is awful. Why would anyone think we need to listen to a failed concept album about the loss of a fictional ship in 1899? Best Tracks: Marley Purt Drive; Melody Fair; First of May
Dude, why does this band blow so hard? It takes a large amount of overcompensating to make this much beautiful composition sound so flat and emotionless. Track one has vocals that have perfected the sound of nails on chalkboard, and on a second listen, I thought I remembered Marley Purt Drive as a moment of relief on this album. No, it turns out it's still as dull, just not as insulting. Sound of Love was actually a decent song, though. But not an interesting moment after, unfortunately.
Just cannot handle their voices or insipid lyrics.
A concept album surrounding the concept of being boring
Arduous.
Yes, when I think of The Bee Gees, I think of this weird knockoff of about five better bands with Yoko-esque singing added in. Not the music that defined an entire genre. No, it’s definitely this.
1. odezza - 0 2. face -1 3. diamond -0 4. marley - 1 5. edizon - 0 6. fair -1.5 7. zuddenly - 1 8. uuhizper - 1 9. lamp - 1.5 10. zound - 1 11. Best - 1 12. Seas -1 13. Nations - 1 14. Laugh- 1 15. Again - 1.5 16. May -1.5 17. opera - 1
Too Slow for my liking. Not enough rhythm . Only good song was Never say never again.
This is absolutely terrible. I was looking forward to some upbeat disco and instead got this mediocre garbage. Ugh 1
Oof this early Bee Gees stuff is really bad. This might be as awful as Trafalgar but it’s still pretty terrible. Super tedious psychedelic folk pop which sounds like an unkind parody of the genre.
Yikes. Knowing what this band is capable of at its best, this was really bad.
What in the ever living fuck is this?!?!
Yes, Bee Gees! The quintessential disco music with a lot of memorable hits... ...This was before that, but not their debute album... so why does this deserve a spot here? the other album i got by them had one of their very small hits. this has none. this list is very confusing with its critera for what needs to be heard. Sounds like generic 60s background music and is very clearly inspired by the beatles. There is a reason why no one knows about this album (if they're not hardcore fans, i guess)
This was hard to listen to
Normally there’s at least one track I like on even the worst album but this is utter bilge. I never want to see this album ever again, my day is ruined
A double album? Uh-oh. First track is 7+ minutes long? Big uh-oh. So many similar tempo songs. Everything just kind of blends into one long meh. Y'know Dimery, I really would've been fine with not ever hearing this album.
Wat een kattengejank
I thought disco Bee Gees already sucked, what the hell is this crap?
Well, this was a rather boring album. The concept sounds interesting on paper, but something went wrong between there and the execution of the album. If I wanted a good story about a ship and Odessa, I would watch the 1925 silent movie "Battleship Potemkin." If nothing else, I could have some peace and quiet without this bland concept album.
It's the beegees, I wanted something groooooovy
The best thing I can say about this album is that it was released on my birthday… a few years before I was born, but still. Other than that, it’s not my style.
Huh, someone wanted to make their own White Album. Didn't enjoy, won't ever listen to this again. Didn't realize that disco actually helped the Bee Gees.
I have never in my life intentionally listened to a Bee Gees song, let alone album. I will never listen to this album again. This is what hubris, cocaine and ludes get you......