Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Not a fan.
Who actually likes Traffic? Not me, that's for sure. Anyway, after Googling John Barleycorn, I can understand the parallel of his lore, and this album. It made me appreciate it a little more. Favorite Track: "Glad".
126/1001 First listen. Not my kind of thing. Not something I’ll listen to again. 3/10
Not for me at all.
neeee
Decent
4/10 Best songs: John Barleycorn I have to admit, based on the album title I was expecting something folk or Irish. Instead I got yet another early 70s progressive rock/jazz (rock?) album. It's like... fine. Boring, honestly. Some of the songs are in a minor key which just doesn't work here. It's telling that the strongest song on the album isn't particularly prog rock/jazz.
Lots of rock n roll flute. 2/5
I’ve never really given this classic rockband much attention, partially because I don’t like Steve Winwood. Still, I didn’t expect it to kick off with a meandering jam tune then segue into pedestrian songs with a lot of flute and sax. The only thing this album has going for it is it’s blessedly short.
This album must die.
It’s always a slog making your way through traffic…even if there’s only six stoplights along the way.
Ah yes, who doesn’t love TRAFFIC. At least this was only six songs
I wish these dudes would save some chicks for the rest of us. Flautists have all the fun.
First song is fun but the rest is a rough ride
Just no. Another 2
ehhhh
Unmemorable Fave track: Empty pages
Someone else said it first but I whole heartedly agree: “This is a lot of Steve Winwood. For some, this would be a draw. For me, it is the opposite.” At least it’s less than 35 minutes long.
This was so meh, it’s the meh of all mehs. I listened to this yesterday, and although it was musically competent (which doesn’t equate to musically interesting), I remember only vague notions that it sounded kinda like Chicago and reeked of cultural appropriation.
I am going 2 stars instead of one because it made me laugh a lot
Kind of boring, classic rock Steve Winwood obviously has an amazing voice, but whatever
Nope. Not today Steve Winwood. Maybe not any day.
2/5 - Steve Winwood and flutes. That’s a big fuckin hole to dig out of.
A technically sound and easy to listen to album of folky jazz rock, but nothing here sticks out or challenges the listener. Another album on this list that’s just sort of there. Interesting to hear early Steve Winwood.
Trotz handwerklichem Können wirkt das Album wie ein endloser Jam: langatmig, zäh, ohne klare Höhepunkte. „Glad“ groovt noch, doch der Rest bleibt ein monotoner Chum-Chum-Trip ohne Richtung.
This wasn't great. I had to jump through a few hoops (read: track down individual songs across streaming services) and the music wasn't strong enough to overcome that initial irritation. I like some Steve Winwood but this wasn't it for me
I listened to this album but literally cannot remember it once i finished
The jams go on forever
Not bad, but I wouldn't listen to this again.
The group that created this 1001 list, it’s becoming clear they were drinking and smoking and likely more, somehow made it a thing! Don’t quite deserve a 1 though.
Was grand to listen to
90s grocery store background music
meh
Not my type
#1 - 3/12/25
Hard pass. I don't really know how to get into the right mindset to appreciate this. It didn't annoy me, so at least two stars, but otherwise didn't care for it.
This came and went without my thinking about it much. When I did notice it, I mostly thought, "That's an awful lot of flute." I guess if I want to listen to Steve Winwood, I'll stick with "Valerie."
The soulful parts are OK but they are surrounded by too much hippie shit.
These guys did Dear Mr. fantasy, that song rips. There’s nothing on this album that comes close to Mr. Fantasy, it just sorta farts along offering glimpses of interesting music before continuing to fart along and offer up middling boring songs. Another example of the overindulgent British curators begging us to listen to their overhyped music. Also, why are you naming your band Traffic? I hate that so much, was the name wet socks already taken? Fuck you Steve Winwood, you cunt. 2 stars
This was a bit dull
I like a lot of albums like this, jammy, folky-rocky. Not this one though. Never liked Steve Windwood, and not liking any of the other voices or the songs.
Cover 4 I didn't mind it. But that's as good as it got for me.
This album and probably Traffic as a band, will probably never cross my mind again - at least until this list offers up another one of their records. Mostly inoffensive 70's jazz/folk rock that I couldn't really pick out of a lineup of other 70's bands of this ilk. And there seems to be a lot of them. Freedom Rider caught my ear with it's notable sax motifs and flute interludes. I'm giving this a 2 star rating - although I (once again) appreciate the ability of these musicians, I can't dole out stars just because they learnt to play their instruments. Traffic is a dumb band name.
ChatGPT, give a me a generic early 70's jam band. The eponymous song of the album should try to be a serous epic story about a fictional character, with acoustic guitar.
No es un disco fácil, más cercano al jazz, al rock progresivo y al lucimiento de Winwood y demás compañeros que a las melodías. Desde luego, prefiero otros de Traffic y de Winwood (Mr. Fantasy y Arc of a diver sin ir más lejos). Empty pages es una buena canción, no se jace tan pesada como la anterior Freedom rider. Stranger to himself abre con brío la cara B.
I don't know who John Barleycorn was, but he did not inspire very good music.
Ok.
So, this is great if you like Steve Winwood. But I don't. I'm sure it helped to evolve the jazz-rock fusions going on in 1970, but I wasn't impressed. Perhaps there's been too much of this same genre being shoved my way by 1001 Albums lately. Perhaps it's not my genre. But if you're in the mood for some mid-range jazzy yacht rock that won't offend your abuela, here you go.
Bland prog rock that had me on the first song and then lost me. I can tell these dudes know how to play, but the songs were just boring. Probs hits different if I were a boomer and smoking weak 70s weed. Feeling a 2/5
Charlie brown does mushrooms.
Well, the first few tracks were interesting. Then it nosedived my interest as the songwriter stuff appeared. 2/5 Gustavo Cerati sampled John Barleycorn (Must Die) in the titletrack of his last studio album Fuerza Natural https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ACG_gupkDw
# 589 : John Barleycorn Must Die. John Barleycorn Must Die – And Honestly, I’m Fine With That Now, nobody likes traffic—commuter traffic, that is. As for the band Traffic? Well, this album doesn’t do much to win them any favors either. At just under 35 minutes, it’s mercifully short, but somehow still manages to feel like a long haul. Only six tracks, and yet they drag like a Sunday drive behind a tractor. It’s technically well-executed, sure. The musicianship is there. But it’s the kind of chill, meandering instrumental music that makes you forget it’s even playing. I didn’t finish the whole thing, and I don’t feel like I missed much. It’s fine. Just… fine. Like a lukewarm cup of tea you forgot you made. A fun little 1970s time capsule, maybe, but ultimately forgettable. Nothing stood out, and nothing made me want to hit replay. Verdict: ★★ for polish. File under “albums that evaporate on contact.”
Not bad but not really my thing
Jazzy Rick, not really my sound.
Decent album, nice instrumentals. Didn't really stick with me after.
Fine
I can't give this a 1 because 1's are reserved for things that I actively want to never have wasted time on to begin with. So that means this can only ever be a 2. It's not BAD bad, but the noodling jazz flute organ sax psych fusion just isn't for me. Good musicians that bore me to tears. This is what Ron Burgundy listens to, but not in a fun way.
This was a folk album, sure. It's not even bad, but I don't think it belongs on this list. Things didn't get interesting until "John Barleycorn" which is, like, it's the end of the album. I dunno. On this list I sometimes think a boring album is the worst kind of album. I guess it doesn't deserve a 1, though.
First two songs were solid and the title track was interesting but the rest didn’t really leave a great impression. Good musicianship but lyrics not really hitting.
Pretty much the most standard issue boomer dad rock imaginable. Jazzy blues jams with a ton of organ and piano in the lead paired with lightly fuzzy guitars, swanky horns and, urgh, flute. Loose playful feel and organic arrangements and some funky bass parts give it a warm relaxed vibe. Winwood's vocals have a hoarse timbre and an ambitious range but can be kind of grating - I guess that's why I like some of these (and other Traffic songs) best as covers.
Forgettable late 60s rock.
a generic 70’s album with no stand outs
Not really memorable.
I imagine this is what Phish sounds like to people who don’t like Phish.
Glad: really fun and energetic. The saxophone and piano sound amazing, Freedom Rider: Not as fun as the previous, flute sounds really good, vocals are weak. all the instruments feel detached from each other somehow. Weakest song on the record IMO Empty Pages: Great bass line, and the vocals are much better here. I like a good organ shredding as much as the next person, but I think the organist at a few points drags it out a bit long, so it lost its coolness. Other than that, the organ is really really cool. Stranger To Himself: Its fine, a bit much "guitar virtuoso"-ing for my taste John Barleycorn: weak vocals again, but the acoustic guitar sounds great, and the flute is great again. The duet makes the vocals worse in my opinion. A vocalist with a stronger voice would make this song alot better, and drop the duet Every Mother's Son: Vocals almost do it for me, the song is okay i guess i am torn between a 2 and a 3
Decent but hardly essential. Dug the tracks with saxophone as player A. Rocky, jazzy but fairly unmemorable with no real stand-out tracks.
Like the title and cover. Like some British folk. Do not like jazz flute or its associated instruments. I tried. Only for Duke Silver.
I guess it was a brave move in 1970 to go with the prog-folk-jazz sound in the face of ubiquitous blues rock, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to it.
Seemed more Jazz then rock to me. Didn't do much for me. Song i liked the most was the traditional folk song.
Imagine if Jamiroquai was terrible. This is that album. Basic Betty lyrics, terrible mixing, obnoxious organ, lack of bass, and a overly busy guitar. Struggled to find a good song or something original. Not my bag.
Get a lot of Yes vibes from this band, especially with that instrumental opener, which was unfortunately where the album peaked for me. In terms of early '70s prog rock, this album fell on the less interesting side of the genre. You're getting the typical occasional jazz fusions, and some acoustic slow-burn ballads, with the titular track, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired - especially when the album reaches its final moments.
Unknown band to me. Ordinary music for me also. An OK album.
I am not sure if this is a must listen album. It might be the product of its time that I just don't understand. I just couldn't see it's impact or how influential it was. It sounds decent though.
Is that a six-minute “trad” song about maiming and murdering a man but really it’s a metaphor for harvesting barely? Fuckin’ Brits, man.
Another Birmingham band, bruh!
Oh boy... This was not for me. Maybe it's musically complex? Maybe?? But it's some hippie rock bullshit for all I care.
I can hear it's influence on future artists, and I appreciate all the playing and performances, but it's really not doing much for me. I think Stranger To Himself is the song I liked the most. 2 Stars.
I liked the other Traffic album more. I didn't dislike this one but also didn't connect to any of it. Had no idea Steve Winwood was in Traffic. Rating: 2.4
I'm going to be honest this was really boring. This is on here because Steve Winwood is on here. It's well-performed and very chill, coming in at a merciful 34 minutes. Despite its length, this dragged for me and did not improve on a repeat listen. Highlights: Glad
Sometimes more is not more. This one is a fuckton better when they cool it with the horns and the synths.
I don’t have anything specifically bad to say about this album other than most of the songs were long and a bit boring. I just didn’t really get it, but not terrible.
Not horrible but it did nothing for me.
Saved by title track but otherwise boring
Very little memory of this but it wasn’t ‘bad’
Mediocre folk album. Sometimes a bit Genesis-like. No highlights and an off-key singer.
Not my preferred music but certainly enjoyable. My only observation is that it seemed the lead singer was being drowned out by the piano at times
uistinu jedan od albuma svih vremena
Interesting combination of jazz/folk/rock. Winwood has a great voice and the album is great background music but overall isn't for me.
Didn't mind the more chilled songs on this, but didn't find it exciting or inspiring. The songs with a faster more upbeat style were a bit chaotic, someone should have told this guy his strength was in calmer songs. Couple of ok tunes, particularly liked Paper Sun, it made me thick of The Beatles.
not quite my style, little too jazzy
It was ok
sus sus amog us
Really boring sounding jam band stuff, and as far as prog goes it sounds pretty lame. Would much rather listen to Jethro Tull, Wishbone Ash or Gentle Giant. Or a jam band like Allman brothers band or Greatful Dead
didn’t like it that much
Meh.
competent and pleasant but thoroughly unremarkable
Lead singer has good voice !
nothing really fancy. is good for work tho. 2.5/5
Too much of this album is dull jazz-rock noodling. I quite liked John Barleycorn though.
No idea on this really. I tried to listen but it was so all over the place that i couldnt get any read. So dated it hurts
There’s a richness to this record that feels utterly wasted on a heathen like me. Songs – while each uniquely compelling, presumably – bounce off me like water off a competition-banned Speedo. At times my toe taps, at others I say “oh this must be where Chris De Burgh got ‘Spaceman’ from.” And as the album finishes a second play through, I realise that all I really have to say is that, above all else, this was the moment I broadened my knowledge of Steve Winwood beyond the It’s Always Sunny reference. (“That’s a gift for you, bumblebee…”.)
Steve Winwood is cool. Album is ite.
Not my sort of thing. Very clearly a 70's blues/folk/rock record, I can see why a 'jam band' sounding album has been put on the list, but I doubt I'd add it to my personal countdown.
Fair
The first tracked grabbed the hell out of me and injected me with some great vibes on a warm, sunny LA afternoon. It was kinda downhill from there. Not because the rest was bad, but because nothing could match that initial vibe. The first side of the album is so much different than the second. Also the less Steve Winwood sings, the better. I don't think his voice is particularly great. This is such a mixed bag. The first half kicks the second half's ass. Why the title track is some weird ren faire folk song that sticks out like a sore thumb is beyond me. Weird choices. Two stars because it could've been so much better. Standout Tracks: Glad, Empty Pages
Quite enjoyed the titletrack - rest was all a bit of 70's jazz/rock/blues jam melange that passed me by without tickling any interest. Disappointing.
No johan on huilua ja meininkiä. Huvittaa sen verran, etten aivan kyllästy - tosin jos ois yksikin biisi enemmän, menisi tämä farssiksi itsestään.
Arviot levyistä "Traffic: Traffic" sekä "Traffic: John Barleycorn Must Die" menivät väärin päin. Tässä siis arvio bändin nimikkolevystä: Bändi vaikuttaa olevan jollain tapaa kiinnostunut rokkauksesta (tsekkaa Feelin' Alright) sekä sävellysten sommittelusta kuunneltaviksi paketeiksi. Erityisen vahvaa materiaali ei ole, mutta se on materiaalia, perkele. Seuraavaksi keskustelisin yhtyeen veikeän herkästä esteettisestä ilmeestä.
Some inoffensive classic rock, just ok really
Not my favourite sound. I can see the technical skill but I just didn't love this. 2.5
I was really hoping for something more bluesy/country based on the title/cover. It had a few elements of it that were the best part of the album IMO. The rest of it kinda fell apart and just faded into the background. 3/10
Started off great but just meandered on into a bit of a dirge
Pretty good sound.
Starts with a lot of promise, then becomes just another 70s prog ISH album. Really tails off in the middle with only a slight improvement on the final track
Did not like this. Sounded like filler on a 70s music station. His voice was particularly grating.
Bien
They're good musicians but this didn't move the needle at all for me. Bland dad rock.
Sure man whatever can you please not give me albums that are exclusively 50 years old. Honestly the more I think about it, the more I think the main problem is that (at least so far) this has forced me to listen to something I don't like almost every day, for usually 30min-1hr. That's a lot of the time I spend daily listening to music, and this is the first that it's not just music that I know I already like. Maybe that's what I'm revolting against
Disappointed because I really liked the album I had before called "Traffic" by a stroke of genius. Although this title is amazing, the album is pretty lackluster.
I don't know, this really doesn't sound like rock.
More Steve Winwood, this time with flutes. My gripe about Winwood's vocals in the last album stands here as well. This is also an annoying stereo mix, with the piano fully in the right ear and guitar fully in the left. Low two; pretty close to 1 territory.
Nope
Groovy 70s Rock. Not really into it much, but I liked a few tracks and they were usually less jazzy. Sometimes the flute was a little psychadelic which I wasn’t keen on. Generally speaking it’s decent, but not particularly for me.
It was very much not my kinda jam, but it was still jammy. I'm like 75% sure I've heard Freedom Rider before in like music class or something, it seems very familiar. But it's also probably the best song on the album imo. I like all the different kinds of instruments used to create this jammy kind of music.
Not much here for me. Kind of proggy and sort of sleepy to me.
About infinity minutes too long.
damn, it's folk. and the first track is instrumental. maybe i'll give them a 1, because they are from birmingham, and my home team is playing against aston villa today but anyway a 2/5
Just an album with lots of funky jazz tunes. Not my cup of tea atm. John Barleycorn is growing on me though 🤔
I can only think of "John Tucker Must Die" - which ages me. Neither good nor bad
forgettable.
Unremarkable. There's nothing here that would bring me back again. 2.5/5
I'd never heard of Traffic before. Definitely an album of two halves - the first half is decent, and the second totally lost me. The title track was rough. Standouts: Glad, Empty Pages
Interesting... I am not familiar with Traffic's oeuvre, and have been recently considering spending some time with their back catalog, based on the occasional track that pops up in my listening (eg, covers by Tigers at the Edge of Time, a local bar band I quite like). OK, I have listened to some of their previous records, and then this one all the way through... and I'm not thrilled. It meanders, more folk-jazz and less rockin' r'n'b than previous records. Unfocused, not well structured, a bit too laid back for my taste. The guitar leads are (at times) pretty awful. Interestingly, the live tracks on disc 2 of the deluxe version are far superior. A bit rougher, better playing, and more focused even when stretching out. I was tossing up what rating to give this album... should it be 2.5, maybe 3? The band is clearly talented and it's not _bad_ per se. But when I listen to those live tracks, it makes the studio album sound like a missed opportunity. This turn to folk-pop just doesn't spark for me (pun not intended), and I feel aggrieved that it has wasted my time that could have been spent listening to something better, like their self-titled record. 2 stars only. A final thought: the font on the cover is incredibly ugly; clearly a chance for the graphic designer to pull out some novelty letraset from the bottom drawer, slap down a piece of clip art, and bob's yer uncle, there's your cover. If the whole cover design took more than 20 minutes, I'll eat my hat.
The jams are great here, but I’m not big on the old English folk songs like “John Barkeycorn”. I struggle to follow the tales and find it daunting and uninspiring to try and keep up.
não curto muito o estilo, não teve músicas que achei impactantes
Meh, not all that great.
Nice!
It's not bad, but I didn't enjoy it. It was boring and a bit milquetoast - not sure what makes this an album I have to listen to before I die.
This album feels like being stuck in traffic. You're comfortable, you have something to listen to, not total crap but also not the best radio station ever. But ultimately, you wait for it to end.
This book might be a little too stuffed with albums and bands like this. This album is, however, pretty good. But I might have some folky, psychedelic, jazzy music fatigue. The album is only 34 minutes long, but somehow it feels longer? 3/5
More roots music aped by Brits who can barely sing. Too much organ and flute for me. The mixing on Stranger to Himself is questionable. Rhythm piano panned to the right with a guitar solo panned to the left, both weighted about equally... I'm not sure why that was the choice. It sounds like there are some good musicians in here, particularly the drummer who keeps a nice groove on most tracks, but Steve Winwood can stop singing pleaseandthankyou
This started off well, but got a bit overblown rather quickly. Glad had a bit of a swing to it, but it soon seemed to settle into more indulgent territory. Too much folk and too rocky for my taste. It may also have helped that the intro was an instrumental, as am not very keen on the voice. Didn't feel it added anything.
..
Traffic? More like, I want to step into oncoming traffic. Kidding kidding it wasn’t that bad
It was weird because all the songs are a regular length but they all felt sooo loooong
Oh, a folky 1960s psychedelic British band? Colour me surprised. Decent instrument playing, plenty of flute, which I suppose is the saxophone of the 60s. Not for me though, this one. Two Barleycorns.
Fine. It's a middle of the road 2.5. A solid example of 70s rock with a hint of psych. I'm rounding it down because I honestly don't think I will remember anything about it after finishing writing this.
This is very cliche. Nothing interesting at all
Ok. Enjoyed some of the instrumental ones
Poorly mixed and boring even if it’s arranged really well. Also, fuck flutes in this application
How novel: a circa 1970 album by a British band performing blues-/country-rock…
Band name suggested rock, album name and cover suggested folk, first couple of tracks were... jazz? Then it became rocky and briefly folky after that. Unfortunately this melting pot of styles wasn't nearly as interesting in practice as on paper.
Decent, easy-listening. Opening and closing tracks were unnecessarily long in my opinion. An album and artist I’ll have probably forgotten by tomorrow.
Not listened yet
This album could not hold my attention. Just kind of boring. Wait, what album am I reviewing? 😄 Barleycorn might need to die but he made a great sour mash.
The title track is possibly the worst one on the album. Every member of Traffic is exceptional but this was a weird transitional period for them and it just didn’t work. This album highlights why they went their own ways.
Not my thing, obviously great musicians
This was disappointing. I always thought I liked Traffic. But I realize now it's more the Dave Mason numbers that I like, the Steve Winwood numbers that verge on prog-rock or a more self-serious Steely Dan, I don't like as much. At least two songs on this album I consider to be outright skips ("Freedom Rider" and the album-titling "JBCMD"—good album title though). That said, I wound up listening to this album, those songs aside, more times than I thought I would. Something about it's laidback rock grooves are easy and comforting as anything on their 1968 eponymous effort, the album I most love by the band. A solid album with some stinkers.
Agree with Charlie on this one! Pretty underwhelmed. nothing stood out on even the second listen. A little allergic to anything exciting or bold. Felt like it just kind of dragged. Was a bit fooled because sonically, this is from 1970, where almost everything sounds great. a high 2/5
Enjoyed learning about Steve Winwood and Traffic…. Lots of horns … enjoyed it on my weekly run…. Enjoyed Empty Pages best
Mediocre and forgettable.
Not bad but I didn’t even realize it was done playing…
Just okay
A lot of long instrumentals- Especially enjoyed the use of flute Sounded like it was the soundtrack to the Austin Powers movies
I hoped I would like this better but I could not. The joy I experienced in this album is looking it up on Google which gave me "People also ask: Who is John Barleycorn and why must he die?"
I got kind of bored tbh. It was not bad music, just not exciting at all.
Finally, 1001 Album Generator challenges me with an album that I'm not that into. I think I've finally discovered what it is I vehemently dislike about Prog Rock. If you're going to make folk, rock, or blues, make it as clever as you want but don't forget about the general listener. This is why Pink Floyd are usually more effective, and why early psych-era Traffic or even yuppie-horseshit era Steve Winwood never irritates me-- it's straightforward, catchy, and it grooves. Blues-rock and folk gets in it's own way when it tries to get too cerebral, let's not forget we gotta feel certain genres in the heart first. I didn't hate this album, but I'm not super psyched to revisit it ever either. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go crank Steve Winwood's 1986 yuppie classic "Higher Love". I wonder if anyone ever brought him that higher love he kept requesting in that song..
It was better towards the end but not exactly my thing.
too much flute!
Oh my! Never a good idea to start off with a six minute instrumental with the saxophone being prominent! It picks up a little with the second song having a real good buildup to the chorus and some nice instrumentation. The production throughout is really good. Track 3 lacks anything noteworthy and track 4 goes down in the history of the forgettable. Did I mention that the production and mix is really good? The penultimate track is a ballad in the original sense of the word, and it has a nice melody and some good harmonies. But it outstays its welcome by more than 3 minutes, which is half the song. Dynamics and variation is key if you’re to have a six minute song! The last track of the thankfully rather short album is also the longest, clocking in at seven minutes. It’s also the most boring track, having nothing memorable to offer. Other than good musicianship and stellar production, of course. I really hope I can get something else than plodding 70s rock tomorrow.
I kinda dug the jams. Nothing spectacular but an album that can definitely provide a good background at the right time. 2.20 stars for John Barleycorn.
Fine music, not my style really and didn't do anything for me. Why it's on this list, i'm not sure about either.
Wut
Oke erste song goht schomol los aber wer isch isch de john barleycorn? freedom rider. ah steve winwood singt, und das easy guet. ok s goht? ersch liecht flat amel. und de song findi etz sochli medium guet. empty pages isch de besser song und die mega clicky hi hat isch recht geil. Stranger to Himself. jo er singt echt nöd so guet wiener meint. klavier isch sehr cool. John Barleycorn isch son traditional englische dings mega dorisch time. schön. winwood blibt i sinere range, fitzt ane uf de flöte und so. ok da lied isch uralt und goht um barley (s getreide) und wiemer drus BIER und WHISKEY mache oyeah Sittin here. schöne song, find sini stimm git huere noh. und sie isch nur links au chli weird.
Pretty meh, I have no further thoughts.
This album and this band seem pretty inconsequential to me. This is some real folky almost proto jam band stuff, and just doesn't do anything for me. I guess I can get how people would like it though.
2/5 forgetful
Tedious. I also had Jethro Tull a few days ago and can conclusively say I don't like prog rock
El grupo donde empezó Steve Winwood y que a pesar de ser muy mencionado nunca he escuchado con atención. Vamos. Me gustó "Empty pages" que me recordó la voz de Peter Gabriel y la folk "John Barleycorn". No me ha parecido malo pero tampoco es que sea algo como para no perderse.
I’m being generous with my grade
Based on the first songs intro, I thought this album wasn’t going to have vocals. Disappointed when they did start. 3/10
I would describe this as safe sex jazz rock. I could hear the influence that rubbed off on other bands/artists who then did more interesting things with it. The instruments were clean but almost predictable on what was to come next. Got Stevie Wonder vibes from the vocals but just nowhere near as good. There were a few times where the singer tried to hit some notes that I just don’t think he was able to hit. The audio mixing was also off, some of the instruments were too quiet and the vocals would sometimes too quiet as well. There wasn’t anything majorly wrong with the album but there wasn’t anything that really stood out either. 4/10
Was this the inspo for John tucker must die?
Folkkyyyy as fuck
Wow. Short short album. Ready for the Disco y'all. Ooh. we got the wakachas. Buddy cop cool guy hyjinks. Weirdly spooky. Back to disco. Did not know electric organs could make a sound like thunder throwing up. That was weird.
Average
late 60s/early 70s prog rock and folk rock in general are one of the most boring genres that I cannot enjoy no matter what when being sober. Thank god there were some jazz-ish parts sometimes so person can wake up from the sleep and enjoy something. 2 stars at best
Not a record I particularly enjoyed.
Sorta boring.
Cool funky jazz. Not gonna listen to all of it. Catching up from vacation.
Well done, but not very memorable. I don't remember what my favorite song is. It's not the title track.
Just some musicians playing some music together. Can I remember any of it afterwards? Nope.
Funcionou bem como disco com camada forte de jazz piano, mas não tem guitarras suficiente para o rock aparecer interessante.
Meandering jazzy soft rock. Apparently almost a Steve Windwood solo album. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Empty Pages Date listened: 07/07/23
A little bit of a snoozefest to be honest 2/5
Just not really my thing. Everyone here is clearly a phenomenal musician and this clearly works for some people, but it really didn’t for me. If I want to listen to 60s/70s jam-band music with eccentric instrumentation, I’ll stick with Jethro Tull… (Favorite Track: John Barleycorn (Must Die))
Not my jam but not objectively terrible. Definitely more piano and organ on these songs than I would prefer. The flute was unexpected, though I guess I shouldn't really have been that surprised.
The jam format definitely does the album a disservice. Melodies don't feel fully developed and uninteresting chord progressions will go on for too long. Not a bad vibe, but it needs more than that.
Traffic kind of blows and somehow that makes me sad. I always thought they were better than this, but the folky songs are just so bad. First couple tracks were solid. Empty Pages is one of those Steve Winwood gems, but the album just doesn’t do much else.
okej
Thought I was going to like it from the first song. Lost its way and sounded like a budget Jethro Tull.
bit of a preacher vibe
The music was decent and enjoyable but completely unmemorable to me. A bit like The Band except not as good.
Thought there were very few moments I peeked up. When the initial vocals come in I thought it sounded decent but this won’t be anything I come back to. Really surprised that they’re not American though because it really sounded overall like they were
I liked the sound of "John Barleycorn". I'm pretty sure the album is better if you are able to understand the lyrics. Sadly, I'm not
Eh.
This is 70’s ROCK! From the 70’s! That ROCKS! In the 70’s it ROCKED! 70’s ROCK! ROCKIN’ 70’s! Sadly, it’s 2023 and this is absolutely desolate. Move along people, nothing to see here. Unless you like beige? It reminds me of the colour beige.
Instantly forgettable
Didn't wow me
Sounds like a budget Genesis - vocals are quite Peter Gabriel-y, but the music is a bit more middle of the road than most of what Genesis did (certainly in the Gabriel days). It's got that slightly folky twang to it, but without the lyrical interest or musical complexity really. 2/5, not an unpleasant listen, but not compelling in any way.
Really not doing it for me. Maybe a bit of enjoyment here and there, but almost didn't get to this level even, low 2.
Album had some funky moments but that was about it for me. Definitely an easy listen but I'll probably pass on it in the future.
Never heard of this before, but didn't hate it. I was glad when it was over though.
Couldn’t get through it
Not for me.
Wasn’t bad but not for me, pretty cool sound for the 1970s but seemed like a complete ripoff of jethro tull
Eh
I listened to a lot of classic rock when up until I was in college, but Traffic was a band that I wanted to listen to, but never got around to checking out. I love Steve Winwood's solo stuff from the eighties, and it was nice to hear him on this album. However, overall, there's really nothing on this album that stuck out to me. The instrumentation was fine, the vocals and lyrics were fine, and it's not a bad album, it's just not going to be something that I'll probably ever think back on.
Not as interesting as I hoped.
Dyings Cats Stevens
Traffic … decent. Funky. Not sure it truly stands the test of time, but as a disclaimer: I'm not a HUGE fan of prog psychedelic jazz rock. If you liked this, listen to Can's album "Ege Bamyasi" if you haven't already. It's deffo more of a delight to the senses, the vocalists also struggle but they do it with the required gusto for me to be able to take it seriously. Best Songs: "Stranger to Himself", lyrically the most interesting "…his hands are torn and bloodied from the scratching at his soul"; "Every Mother's Son", musically the most short-lived despite being the longest. Worst song: it's a tight run between Freedom Rider and Empty Pages, but Empty Pages wins for being shining horror material: "…found someone who can comfort me, but there are always exceptions" – sis, please. Imagine being born in an era where some (or most) male singer-songwriters wrote about their love interests like they do their mother-carers? My condolences. It's songs like these that make me remain thankful I can open a bank account without the signature of a man. [Off topic, I'm new to this site, so behold the review I wrote for Manu Chao, which I REFUSE to lose and forgot to enter: a classic protest pop phenomenon for the anti-hipster and hipster alike, refreshingly anti-capitalist and anti-us imperialist. a global mix of spanish, english and french. south american and european, humanist, lost and searching, full of hope but with both eyes open. classics: bongo bong, je ne t'aime plus and la vie à 2 and the run between: luna y sol, por el suelo, welcome to tijuana.]
A terrible album name. The album wasn't great. It was better than a 1 but not really a 2. I will round up.
teils ok, (groß-) teils meh.
Jazzy
Eh
Some decent Piano.
I initially quite enjoyed this, but wasn't blown away really. I've been listening to a lot of Prog this year, but haven't come across Traffic. I do know of Steve Winwood though. I might give this a second listen, since I just had it on in the background on the first spin. It is quite short! OK, so I listened to this a second time while doing the dishes and paid more attention to the vocals this time. I'm now questioning why this album is included in the book. The singing isn't great at all and the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. This pales in comparison to Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes and Jethro Tull albums from the era, so I wouldn't even argue that it was super influential or anything. Maybe people just love having an origin story for Steve Winwood? I'll give it 2 stars because the musicianship is good throughout, but I doubt I'll listen to this again.
This is pretty much an instrumental album. This album is solid - all the songs are fine. I dont think any of them stand out to me where I'd want to listen to them again. Fine record but nothing special 4/10
If you like early 70s guitar, then this is something to checkout. I was excited to hear some wary Steve Winwood, but nothing exciting from this album. I’ll give it a 2 because they had the tools to make something great, this just was not it.
I didn't really know what to make of this album. It was interesting I guess, but I didn't feel like much of it caught me with great hooks or spoke to me lyrically. It wasn't overindulgent prog rock, but it also didn't feel entirely purposeful in a kind of jam band way. Overall I probably won't revisit and can say to myself "ok that's what this band was about."
The piano in this is a nice touch but overall I was really bored listening to it. It all feels very much of its time and lacks the transcendence of some of the other works here.
Disappointing.
2 but a very HIGH 2. Just not quite as good as other 3s. Enjoyed the sound but didn’t find myself saving any songs
It was pretty good, kind of forgettable for me. I think I listened to this twice yesterday and don't remember much of it. Reminded me of Jethro Tull's Aqualung: rock with a flute.
Not really my thing 2/5
This was the hardest rock band that the renaissance fair would allow to play for authenticity reasons.
The band is appropriately named because they make me want to go out and run around in traffic.
This was a potentially great album, ruined by a number of ill-fitting solos. Freedom Rider could have been awesome, but then someone decided that it needed a multi-flute solo? The flute as an instrument really doesn't fill enough sonic space and convey enough power to take center stage in an up tempo song with only drums and bass guitar as backing. Someone must have noticed that too and decided to solve it by adding a second flute. The otherwise great song just falls away into a hole at this point. The flute solo actually works in the title track. That one gets a pass. It fits the tempo and the mood. Stranger to Himself has the guitar solo panned to the left, and it feels like the piano accompaniment is at the same or even higher level than the solo. So rather than adding some melodic interest, the section just feels repetitive, because those repeating piano chords are so prominent. The organ solo in Every Mother's Son is so sparse when it starts out, holding the notes on for too long. This has the affect of highlighting the repetitiveness of the backing. Then it does a few fast runs that don't really *say* anything because they're too fast. The solo is either too slow or too fast and never stops to speak to you. It should really be trying to draw attention to itself but completely fails at that task and makes the song lose energy as your attention is drawn to the backing. There were some really good ideas for songs on this album, but they just didn't turn them into songs that maintain a consistent energy or focus. I wouldn't listen to any of this again.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but so much of this album just sounds slightly off. Glad sounds like a jam that was never fully developed to a satisfactory level. The chord progression, vocals and flute all sound completely at odds on Freedom Rider. Empty Pages is easily the best song on the album for mine. Why is the piano so loud on Stranger to Himself?! The title track is pretty good, the vocals fit the music and the flute actually works well. Every Mother's Son is ok, but a bit too slow and plodding.
Album bangs.
didn't grab me but i wasn't really paying attention, also i'm generally opposed to rock flute
This album sounds like the music equivalent of avocado colored appliances, especially the opening track. Freedom Rider was not bad as well as a couple other songs here and there. Sometimes it sounded like Jethro Tull, which was okay. Overall I can't say that I liked it. It did have some fleeting moments but it was overall just not very impressive and yet another album that makes me scratch its head at its inclusion. Not completely awful and I could see how others might like it, but I won't be coming back to this.
Unsure if it's just a bombardment of 70s music that's wearing on me or not, but nothing on this album really stood out.
okay
Don’t remember it to be honest, which is probably indicative of how good it was. Rating: 4/10
Can’t do the flutes. Not my vibe but very retro.
From the first song, I already feel it's a jam band. I don't know how I feel about jam bands. It has the structure I think of jazz, giving each instrument its time to shine. I'm not into the long-form solos. My training to pop music wants me to have songs be short. Except for "Bohemian Rhapsody".
not a big fan, just not my style
John Barleycorn is blijkbaar een oud liedje en de verpersoonlijking van bier en whiskey, dus dat-ie dood moet betekent vast dat de heren van Traffic daar nogal verslingerd aan waren. Het heeft hun muziek dan ook geen goed gedaan.
Wel ok, maar ging een beetje aan me voorbij
Ik weet niet wie die John Barleycorn is, en waarom ie dood moet. Maar als dit zijn muziekale testament is dan is het misschien allemaal maar beter zo.
Jazzy folk fusion?
Pretentious-ass is correct that barleycorn is alcohol-related, but it's also a unit of measurement (1/3 of an inch). The relation to barley and hence alcohol is what leads us to the traditional British character and folk song and also to the Jack London autobiography, both named "John Barleycorn." But if London came to embody the alcoholic first referenced in the song 400 years earlier, why does Traffic insist he must die? I still don't know why "John Barleycorn Must Die," but I do now understand why the label for Delirium Tremens features a pink elephant, as London's novel included the first use of pink elephants as a stereotypical hallucination for the very drunk. Is it a teetotaler thing!? Even if you don't like his drinking and associate it with all the ills of society, killing him hardly seems like an appropriate solution. We've discussed prohibition of substances here before. It doesn't work, people. As for the music, the aforementioned "Barleycorn" was a very weird folk detour on a... what genre was the rest of that? The front half was very horn and woodwind heavy (it's been a pretty horny series of albums lately), and man those woodwind solos are something... I thought we had listened to Traffic before, but we hadn't. Then I thought again, and was sure we'd had some progressive jazz smooth rock type thing. Ah, but that was Chicago, about which I'd said similar things about the jazzy instruments and vague genre. And originally they were the Chicago Transit Authority, which probably does something to regulate Traffic. So let's call this gridrock. Get it?
What did John Barleycorn ever do to anyone?! Together with Jethro Tull and King Crimson, I think it is really the genre of Prog Rock that must die.
2.5
Fairly generic 70's music - I'm becoming bored of these types of albums.
Somehow I'd never heard this album, despite having been a fan of Steve Winwood for most of my life. The opening instrumental really grabbed me, but the rest left me cold.
I wanted to like this so much more...it sounds great but it just doesn't have anything that brings me back to listen to again.
this does not fuck as hard as the album cover would lead one to believe
Dislike
Dull jazz-rock. Seriously, why choose this insipid Traffic album to listen to before I die? The first album (Mr Fantasy) may have all the trappings of the psychedelic era, but is so much more varied, interesting and fun to listen to. That album (along with singles like Paper Sun and Hole In My Shoe) is recommended listening! This one is just meandering and a bit tedious. Two stars because there were a few moments of inspired instrumental interplay. Otherwise, it's a bit crap really.
Odd and old
Odd and tedious
Prog folk not my scene.
This all pretty much faded into the background and just sat there doing its thing without me. I kept trying to pay attention but ended up drifting away and ignoring it every time. It's entirely inoffensive, like a pleasant wallpaper.
Ekkert spes. Steve Winwood eina góða við plötuna.
The panpipe player must die.
Left me as cold as poor dead John Barleycorn.
I wish he had
This didn't really do anything for me.
Folkprog, not particularly interesting, but a good example of where this scene was in 1970
Musically ok, vocals were terrible.
Прикольно, я даже на John Barleycorn подумала «вау», но потом передумала и лепю 2 звязды
* fine.. unmemorable
Pretty standard fare which is quite dated nowadays
No tengo mucho que decir la verdad. No me molesta en absoluto pero no llamó mi atención. Dos temas (Empty Pages (bastante buen tema) / Stranger To Myself) me agradaron, el resto ni fu ni fa. No hubo fu, pero por otro lado, tampoco fa. Musicalmente es agradable, los puntos más jazz-rock (?) están bien, buenos órganos especialmente en esos dos temas que mencioné anteriormente. No hay nada que hatear, pero sin llegar a ser interesante, y prefiero escuchar las versiones de este sonido que si que me interesan. Mediocre. DEP John Barleycone no se merecía un destino tan cruel y además murió debiéndome 55 pavos la sucia rata.
Never heard of them, but not too bad
It's interesting but I'm not sure I would revisit this. Would work great as a soundtrack to an RPG though
Worth a listen, but wouldn't say it blew me a way. Very 70s, very English, very jam bandy.
The strongest cut is the title track; The rest is certainly British folk. Far from Fairport in my mind.
Beige, inoffensive 60/70s rock. An easy listen, but didn't really inspire
good band, but just another one of the bunch.
No idea what this is going to be but I'm not feeling positive vibes. Ah that's why! It's more psychedelic folk rock type stuff. Mercifully it's only half an hour long. 2/5.
lite smågött
Better! But still not there yet. Enjoyed the instrumentals and was cool to find out Steve Winwood is a part of this but I don't think I'll come back to this one.
Not my thing really
“Feckless improvised rock, or is it folksong-based jazz?’”
This started okay but quickly devolved into an album I never need to hear again.
Interesting... I am not familiar with Traffic's oeuvre, and have been recently considering spending some time with their back catalog, based on the occasional track that pops up in my listening (eg, covers by Tigers at the Edge of Time). OK, I have listened to some of their previous records, and then this one all the way through... and I'm not thrilled. It meanders, more folk-jazz and less rockin' r'n'b than previous records. Unfocused, not well structured, a bit too laid back for my taste. The guitar leads are (at times,) pretty awful. Interestingly, the live tracks on disc 2 of the deluxe version are far superior. A bit rougher, better playing, and more focused even when stretching out.
Nothing special, a pretty boring album
Langweilig
This was a struggle. Great musicianship, that’s clear. It’s just not my genre.
jazz meio blues pop? o cara canta bem freedom rider tem uma flauta dissonante interessante john barleycorn é a melhor
Nice, positive, upbeat album. Nothing outstanding but would make for a good album on a day at the beach or a backyard BBQ. Favorite Tracks: "John Barleycorn"
Rockigt, jazzigt och funkigt på samma gång. Inledningslåten, Glad, är lite Frank Zappa - Peaches in Regalia, jazzig. Steve Winwood mycket bra sångare! John Barleycorn (Must Die), en tolkning av en traditionell folksång, bryter av mot den annars jazziga och funkiga stilen, ett välkommet avbrott, med fin gitarr och flöjt. Annars är det bra, utan att för den sakens skull någonsin bli utmanande eller allt för underhållande. 2.5/5! Bästa låt: John Barleycorn (Must Die)
it was ok
generic prog rock
Not bad, but didn't really care for it at all.
Decent music. Alot of covers but good overall
The title track is wonderful, one of my favourite tunes for many years. The rest of the album is unremarkable and surprisingly different to the title track. Stevie Winwood is one of the great unsung heroes of rock music, but this is disappointing.