Reviews (page 4 of 9)
I don't particularly like most of Van Morrison's stuff, but this album is amazing. It picks you up and takes you away, then floats you through gauzy, melodic clouds and gently puts you back down again.
A favorite since before time began and until it ends.
Lidt for uslebet. Ikke lige så godt, som det album, der allerede har været med ham.
Started off strong, but 47 minutes made it monotonous.
Good album
295/1089 - Where was the jazz? (Nvm just got to The Way Young Lovers Do) Not really a fan of his big vowels.
i feel bad for not liking this cause i thought i would but i REALLY didn't care for it unfortunately. im unfortunately picky about singing voices and this guys voice was just super obnoxious to me. every song felt way too long and repetitive. the instrumentals were alright though. sorry van morrison :(
Ethereal kinda reminded me of yoko ono and bob dylan
Van morrison er fin før han skriker. blir litt slitsomt å høre på den gaulinga hans, men noe fint her og der.
Amazing
I have listened a bit to Van Morrison since my dad listened to him when I grew up. Interesting lyrics and a good voice. To me its good music to have on in the background while doing other things. Not something I will listen to actively.
Didn't hate it, but wasn't particularly impressed either
Maybe I have had enough of Van Morrison. Didn't do too much for me but wasn't completely offended.
Dreadful (although for reasons unknown to myself not a 1)
From a musical point I wanted to give this album at least two stars, but his vocals made it impossible for me. 1,5
Mellow 3.5/5
For someone with such an enormous ego, Van Morrison really is very mid-talent. Forgettable pap from an insurmountable cunt.
Quite annoying to listen to. Sounds like constant whining
I might be a Van Morrison fan. Listening to this album made me want to listen to more Van Morrison, so that feels like it was a great album. It wasn't necessarily a 5 but it was great. He has a very unique interesting voice that shows emotion and depth. He also has some interesting lyrics that make me smile. Then you add together the different instruments and genres he mixes, just make it interesting and enjoyable.
I did not especially like this album. At his best, Van Morrison can be very jazzy. I liked one song on this album, They Way Young Lovers Do. It has a more upbeat jazzier vibe to it with horns. That song doesn't even sound like it came from the same recording session as the rest of the songs. The rest of the songs just sound like jams that don't really evolve into interesting songs. And I'm convinced that no matter what the band is playing, Van Morrison is just singing the same song. This is all so samesy. After the first listen I was a 3. After a second listen, I became more annoyed with his voice and lyrics. Half of it sounds like stuff he's just making up on the spot and repeating over and over. Sorry Van. Just not into it.
Yaaawwwwnn! That was one heck of a nap this album put me into. This feels like one of those albums that take years and many dozens of listens to “get” and once you do, you’re a life long die hard fan. I have several of those already but I’m old now and I don’t care to invest that much time into a record that, aside from interesting instrumentation here and there, goes nowhere.
I've learned I like Van Morrison in small doses, but a whole album of him can be a bit much. This album in particular had a specific sound structure to it, and the songs didn't vary much from that structure. One outlier that stood out was The Way Young Lovers Do. And I really like Sweet Thing because it's just a pretty, moving song. Overall, I enjoyed the poetic lyrics, and the instrumentation was quite lovely, but his vocals get kind of annoying after awhile.
Поначалу мне не хватало перкуссии и ударных, но когда я решил послушать альбом второй раз я ощутил кайф и легкость музыки с лёгкой перкуссией в виде марокассов или вовсе ее отсутствия. Прекрасное сочетание гитары со смычковыми инструментами подчёркивает эту лёгкость. Голос вносит яркость в очень приятный инструментал. Мне очень напомнил Мика Джаггера
Nice. Havent heard this in a while. Peaches is a great opening track and Willie the Pimp a great second track. Captain Beefheart’s cocals suit thos so well. Son of Mr Green Genes has some cracking playing but the drums and bass are a stand out for me. So solid, really driving the songs, allowing Frank to float around on guitar, really play some interesting melodies and scales from regular rock to almost Egyptian sounding. The Gumbo Variations ia probbly my favorite track on this album. All credit to Frank for the compositions and arrangements but the back band on this album stand out for me without overpowering the main cast type of standout. That’s a solid skill. Lordy the violin on this track. So solid good. Looked ip thebnd. Bass player oneof the wrecking crew, srummer played woth Coltrane, etc. bass player dodnt know Frank, got a call to go to thw studio, 2 days recording and there’s Hot Rats. All of which is not to say Zappa is lagging here. Great grungy dirty aound on Willie, lovely clear tone on Camel. Probably one of the less avante garde albums by Frank and for me one of his best albums. If you’re looking for a jazz rock fusion album it would be hard to find better.
fine
4 Stars (11/15)
Some good tunes but Van’s vocal style becomes overbearing on a few tracks, almost to the point of being unlistenable
I have a strong distaste for Van Morrison but these recordings are actually really good, I like the way this sounds. He just has one of those voices... as soon as I heard him start singing on the 2nd track I wanted to turn it off. Besiiididdeeeee youuuuuuuu chiiiiiiillllld Ballerina - "what if someone wanted to get real close to you.. for instance, me?" BAD. Ugh he sounds like he's singing a karaoke bar 3am
This record is so meandering. Van’s singular voice does so much heavy lifting. I might have been in a bad mood when I first listened but I was hating it haha. There are stoner tree-planter bands in Vic that kinda sound like this tbh. Fav songs: Cypress Avenue, Ballerina
Un álbum fallido, creo. La intención es buena, pero falta calidad y sonido. Probablemente Van Morrison debería haber rebajado su ego en este disco... Cosa que no pasó jamás por ninguna causa.
Classic Van Morrison. Solid 4
The level of improvisation drives me mad
I love the improvisation. You get the sense that Van Morrison knows exactly what it is he wants to do, he knows the through line, and that the band are vibing around him, both him and the band adapting to each other’s movements. This is undeniably cool. The melodies themselves are a not as interesting as the song structures, but it’s a very cool artefact.
One of my favourite records
Listened to half, it was medium.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Strongly dislike brown eyed girl (which isn't on this album) so thought I might not like this. Pleasantly surprised. Light, kind of Neil Young esque. Wouldn't mind hearing again. 6/10.
I thought it was good. I good see why van morrison fans liked it. I would probably listen to it often if I was a fan.
Love this album. It is the ambiance version of folk-rock. The lyrics aren't much, but the vocals are perfect with the music to relax and grant peace to the world. The lengthy ends also encourages meditation. Shanti. 5/5
Alte Musik, nichts Spezielles.
Never really noticed, but he sometimes sounds a lot like those weird slightly spooky 1930s singers from the rubber hose cartoons, which I think is why his singing in a couple of these feel a tiny bit unsettling. I feel like instrumentally, its a lot like the more 'produced' Nick Drake albums, which is really good, feels very natural and organic. I feel his voice, while very powerful can get a bit grating at times, especially when he does that one vocal bit and keeps repeating things. His voice very much jumps out from the instrumentals, while Nick Drake blends in a lot more, and I guess there's no better or worse objectively, but I for sure like the Nick Drake stuff more. I do also like the longer-form songs, but I sort of wish he'd let some of the songs be instrumentals for extended periods of time rather than just improvising whatever vocals on top of them. The lyrics and storytelling are very good, and quite surreal as well in his description of certain things like people. I think this is probably similar in quality to the Moondance one, if not a bit better. Favourite songs: Astral Weeks, beside you, sweet thing, Madame George, Ballerina. Overall around 6/10 (feels close to 7)
3.6 zu ungerecht es eine 3 zu geben
A month or two ago, I started listening to my own copy of this record. After a few minutes, I got so irritated that I stopped it, removed the CD and threw it away. (EDIT: I didn't actually throw it away; I donated it to a charity shop.) Van Morrison's voice is a dull blade sometimes, and you can feel it tearing at you. You really need to be in the mood or in the right setting for it, and I was not. I'm giving it another chance today, and it's not terrible, but he does still stab at my eardrums in a way I don't appreciate like I think I should. The songs are interesting, though, and the music is nice. I especially enjoy the prominence of Richard Davis's bass. I'm not going out to buy it back, and it might not be one of 1001 records I needed to hear, but I think Mr. Morrison and I have achieved a certain level of détente.
4 out of 5 Never heard half these songs but I enjoyed all of them. Great classic rock catalogue.
1. Astral Weeks - 11 I'm not even a fan of Morrison's voice so much but this is just a brilliant track. The instruments guide you weightlessly through some incredible lyrics. 2. Beside You - 3 Really does not sound good. Vocally it's an absolute trainwreck and unlike Astral Weeks there's not an overall sense of the song building or lifting towards something enjoyable. 3. Sweet Thing - 10 Lyrically it's superb. The addition of the strings to help bring in and fade out the outro is an excellent touch. Absolutely incredible track. 4. Cyprus Avenue - 7 It's okay. It builds really well but it's not as grand a crescendo as Sweet Thing or Astral Weeks. Vocally there are times it's not enjoyable but other times it's a joy. Very hit and miss track but it's pretty enjoyable despite that. The way the strings go from flat playing to out of tune to back into flat playing is very clever and works really brilliantly on the track. 5. The Way Young Lovers Do - 6 Good upbeat song with some solid lyrics. It's not like anything else on the album and it's an enjoyable track. The use of brass is pretty good on the track but vocally it goes from being very good to at times a bit of a mess. 6. Madame George - 3 Insanely boring track that's just way too slow and goes on for way too long. 7. Ballerina - 5 Builds really well but at times it just seems like it's not going anywhere. Opening minute and the last three are the most enjoyable parts of the track. 8. Slim Slow Slider - 5 Lyrically very good but the outro is just an unnecessary increase in tempo and pace for ten to fifteen seconds. Makes the outro feel so out of place on not just the track but the album. Overall it's a decent track. Average Rating: 6.25 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 3.13 Rounded Down: 3 Stars
Unique (backing music sounds a bit like krongcong to me, if you know that niche Indonesian style). I enjoyed it, but won't lose my head over it like some others I know.
Beautiful arrangements. I love this era of production. Flutes everywhere. The record is a bit meandering, particularly the vocals. He’s often going OFF for 7+ minutes and it can get a bit tiresome. Lyrics are interesting though. Feels very loose, which is mostly cool but sometimes feels strange. The swung ride cymbal rhythm that barges in at the end of Madame George while the strings play a gorgeous melody straight is a really weird choice. Slim Slow Slider is a weird ender. It’s a beautiful record for sure, but I’ll likely only come back for the title track.
Enjoyable but blended together a bit by the end.
How did a folk album become one of the greatest rock albums of all time? I’m not sure. But the songs are smart and interesting. And Morrison’s voice is darn engaging. I especially like “The Way Young Lovers Do.”
Album No. 0040 on my list. I didn't know much about Van Morrison before (except for "Brown Eyed Girl); Astral Weeks was a completely new listen to me... ... and one that I didn't particularly enjoy. I feel like this is one of those albums where I know that it did have a lot of influence, and where I can appreaciate it, get why it is the case. But for me personally, it's not that great unfortunately. Most songs are feeling rather boring and I didn't particularly like the interactions between what Van Morrison is singing and the music. "Madame George" was my favorite. 2/5 stars.
Nice
I like the famous songs I know by Van Morrison, but by god, this album sounds exactly the same from start to finish. So little variation really drags, even for 44 minutes.
Good. But sleepy.
Maybe the greatest album of all time. I couldn't argue strenuously against it.
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Nett & so ein bisschen öde.
I don't know if my feelings are tainted by his anti-vax stance and other bizarre political views, but I found his voice to be grating throughout the album and the songs to be meandering.
This man needs some tits n ass cause he is missing even hugs!
High 2. Just feel like I need to try to spread out my ratings a little more evenly, and I didn't mind this album but listened almost 3 times and I didn't save a song. Some were ok. Don't really like the singing style WAAAHOOOOWWW RIVERRRAA CHERRA WHYYYYYNE.
Cover 5 Yeah this would be a good chill album. I often wish I had a better set up for listening to vinyl. This album would be excellent to do that with, relaxing in a chair, a cold drink perhaps, and just listening.
Perfect
Speisa.
Outright garbage. No voice, no melody, no talent. 3 chords for a whole fucking album! Utter boredom.
Absolute masterpiece. 5/ 5
Didn't age very well, I think. It's an ok album, but it was probably a lot better in the 60s. Now, it's a 3/5
Gi meg månedans og brunøyd jente. Neia, ikke gæli denne heller.
Beautiful melodies, questionable lyrics. 3/5
Big fan of Moondance but not so much Astral Weeks. It's a fusion of folk, jazz, and blues that I don't particularly like. Definitely deserves a place on the list, it's just not for me. Sweet Thing is the highlight. 3/5.
I like a few Van Morrison songs but tbh this whole album got a bit grating as it went along. I liked it at the start but the end I just wanted him to shut up
not rly my style, but it's good music. would recommend to someone who likes folk-ish vibes
Nice album, that I feel like could you listen while on a picnic. high 3/5
Nothing special about this. To me, Van Morrison had two hits and neither of them were part of this album. A high 2, rounded up to a 3.
Classic Van Morrison. Totally loved the vibes and instrumentation (who doesn't love great drums, horns, and was that a harpsichord?) Listened before? A couple songs familiar as singles Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Astral Weeks, The Way Young Lovers Do ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it.
Not familiar with any Van Morrison songs other than Brown Eyed Girl going into this album. The arrangements are lovely and dynamic. The strings are fantastic. I love a harpsichord as long as I don't have to help move it. Oooh, unexpected horns! Nice. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Astral Weeks, Cyprus Avenue, The Way Young Lovers Do ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Saved some tracks.
not really a fan of this 2
Before this list I had always written off Van Morrison until I had Moondance which pleasantly surprised me. I was somewhat interested in getting this one after. But this was pure shite. It was like he'd half arsed all the songs and it turned out to be utter drivel. I went back to listen to Moondance to make sure my mood hadn't affected my ratings or whatever, but I still quite liked Moondance. Both albums fundamentally didn't sound too different from each other, but Moondance had more passion and energy put into it. This was disappointing. I was leaning towards this being one of the worst albums I've had yet but The Way Young Lovers Do was quite good at least.
Kunne kanskje likt det her. Og med noen flere gjennomhøringer, rett rolig humør og nok dop like æi det nok godt, men hvorfor starte aldri noen av sangene?
great album for the people who love 60's folksy music
I want to like it more.
Very good
Less singing, more sweet instrumental riffs, please. This is the first of 3 Van Morrison albums I have reviewed for this project, and I’m just not really a fan so far. The only song worth mentioning is “The Way Young Lovers Do”. The rest are fairly repetitive and bland songs that I just wouldn’t really want to come back to unfortunately because I’m not a huge fan of his singing. They aren’t outright terrible, I just didn’t really enjoy them personally. So I’m conflicted whether this should be a 2.9 or a 3.0. Not much to talk about with this one. It’s the oldest of the 3 albums, so I guess I’ll see how his music evolves over time. Perhaps the other 2 will be better. Like I said, not terrible, but not great either. At least it’s got “The Way Young Lovers Do”, which reminded me of something you’d hear in Kill Bill. I really actually liked that one. Sure, that’s enough to give it a low 3. Why not??
did not listen to the whole album, but liked what I heard
This struck me as a 3 star album straight off the bat. It’s perfectly fine but never gave me much cause to take greater interest. I’m not sure the vibe really matched my mood this morning, so that probably didn’t do it any favours.
721 albums in and ive not heard anything as beautiful as some of the music on this album. The title track draws you into the world Van Morrison has created just for you. The album ebbs and flows, there are moments of musical perfection, intertwined with randomness.
I guess you'll like it if you like Van Morrison
Im giiiVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAANNNNNNah, Im givimgivimgivimgivimgivin a 2 star, a 2 star, a 2 star a TWO STAR OUT OF FIVE
Another classic album.
Love this album. Sweet Thing is probably my favorite Van Morrison song. Highlights: “Sweet Thing” and “Cyprus Avenue”
Listened to the 1999 Remastered album. DUDE - what an album. This was released after "Brown Eyed Girl" put him on the map. Cool jazz and blues vibes throughout. Need to pick up a physical copy of this album. Favorite Tracks: Astral Weeks (such a great song - so cool with the beat, the occasional flutes, and Van Morrison just getting after it) Sweet Thing The Way Young Lovers Do - cool jam
Only recently discovered that Van Morrison did some really good stuff. Enjoyed this.
Inoffensive but not very exciting. Would be better if Brown Eyed Girl was on it.
All the ingredients are there for my ideal music but it hasn't ever hit with Van Morrison and it still didn't
Van's voice and intonation grates after a while on this album. The songs are much of a muchness, and meander meaninglessly. I prefer some of his other albums this one. Save by some passages of good instrumental work by the musicians.
It's a cool, laid back album but not quite enough for me to put it onto a regular cycle
Some excellent songwriting on this one
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Perhaps it was just ideal Sunday afternoon listening.
This was another solid Van Morrison album! Many of his songs sound similar to me so they all kind of blend together but I would say the standout track for me was ‘Sweet Thing.’ Overall, I enjoyed this album and would listen to it again in the future!
There isn't really much more I can add to the discourse on this album, it's one of the best and most important ever made. It's not one of my personal favorites. I don't find Van Morrison's voice all the pleasurable, but I can objectively say his performance is masterful. The expansive freedom and spontaneity of the instrumentation throughout is great, but there are few spots where I don't know if the string arrangements were needed. But this album really seems to be one of those flashes in pan, where everything came together just right in recording and all the artistry outpoured all at once. It's still fresh today.
It was fine. I have heard rumors that this creator is a boomer who believes the late 60s and 70s were when music was at its peak. This album is not that amazing, though.
Van Morrison sounds like a wise old man telling stories that captivate. First time listening and I’m already in love.
I vibe to Morrison's voice, especially when he hits those highs, but some of these songs run a little too long for me to save in a playlist unfortunately.
This album is more than a breath of fresh air after all of the mediocre pop I've gotten from this same decade so far. I don't know why I'm all of a sudden getting some of the best music from the earlier decades of the list, but I'm completely fine with it if it means I get more music like this. It's like Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, but 30 years earlier and a lot more improvised. I wonder if there's a version that doesn't have all of the overdubbed instruments, since Morrison himself said he didn't want them in the album. My own hunt for it showed nothing, or else I would've done that version. As it stands, this is still an incredible album. He's a real wordsmith with some deeply touching storytelling and a very unique voice to support it. The really cool part of the album is that it's mostly improvised, obviously outside of the overdubbing.
Kinda meandering but I generally liked it
Not a big fan personally, but there's no denying his influence--particularly this album which is about as close to jazz as you can get with folk rock. A really good listen and probably warrants multiple listens.
Not my favorite Van album, but also not one I've listened to all the way through before. I have a feeling this will take multiple listens to fully appreciate.
I love this guy but these songs were a bit too mellow.
It's good, it just gets old. One tune and cadence the whole album. Sweet Thing is the best take of them all.
Expected this to be better though still very solid. He has a really nice voice
Absolute masterpiece.
68/100. There are moments of beauty in this record, especially where the jazzy elements blend into the folk foundations. That fusion really works. However, some of the vocal tones and delivery didn’t quite land for me personally.
Can’t deny VM’s talent but I found myself a bit bored listening to this.
Hm, der Jung kann nicht Schreien, also hört sich für mich so nach "Gaaaaarrjajajaaaaaaa" an :D Kanns gar nicht beschreiben, die Melodien und Arrangement klangen an sich gut, aber man musste sich echt konzentrieren an seiner Stimme und seinem Schreien "vorbeizuhören". Nicht gut
Die Stimme und das Geschrei ist ja furchtbar. Mehrmals gedacht:"Meint er das ernst?"
Keine 4 Sterne von mir
A great blend of folk, jazz and blues. Van's best record, and one of the best albums of the late 60s. I love the flow of the whole thing, the rich production, the soulful vocals. Fave track on this listen: Sweet Thing
I have been assigned so much post-punk in the last few weeks I'm starting to feel like this is a targeted psy-op. 3.5/5
Judging by the reviews...another marmite album. In my opinion this is as good today as when I first heard it 50 odd years ago. Have to separate the 'man' from the music.One of my all time favourite albums
Magical. From what I gather, he recorded these spare with just guitar and then the jazzy arrangements were dubbed in after by the producers and it was the best idea ever. If you only know him from the saccharine hits and the loutish clown he has recently become, get ready to fine out why Van was once the Man.
Everybody knows the syrupy Van Morrison hits, but this comes off like young (uncut?) Van at the local Open Mic night where he's hoping to get laid and is ad-libbing his way through the set. So we get lots of repeated lines (“BeSIIIIIDE you!”) and the thing he does with his voice where he, uh, sings harder and more forcefully for emphasis. I have never before explored the VM catalog, and this confirms that I do not particularly care for his voice, which takes on a sharper, grating quality in those moments, which abound. Besides that, I’m struck by how these are less songs with melodies and rhythms that might stay with you, like even some of his more insidious hits, than sketches or fragments that lack structure. Sure, there is plenty to recommend the musical adornments to these tracks, and there’s some nice poetry in the lyrics, but I can’t get past the main attraction. I might like this better if it were sung by someone with more vocal subtlety and nuance — Cat Power comes to mind, or even Bonnie Raitt.
Absolute drivel. 5 of 8 songs are 5+ minutes long and the whole thing feels like an improvised in the studio project, with flute tacked on later. I take back every complaint I've made about Dylan because this is so much more self indulgent and worse.
He was always an asshole. He's become an unbearable asshole as of late. But damn could he write a song and that voice is like no other. Not my favorite album of his but...Sweet Thing can put me in another space. A good space.
I do love this wing nut’s voice. However, these songs leave me a little flat. They feel a bit static, too similar. Not my favorite of his.
folky. mellow. chill.
Pretty great. To be honest, I was expecting to hear his most famous track, but it's on "Blowin' Your Mind!" instead. Van's voice really dominates, and it deserves the spotlight. Also I just learned that he is from Northern Ireland.
definitely not a fan of Van Morrison. For me this was rough
Okay. Bit dull. Man and guitar singing softly.
Heck yeah! This one's an all timer for me. In the top 25 of this whole project. Van is the Man on this album. Richard Davis shines on every track, just masterful playing. I don't remember when I got this, early 90's I think. First listen and I was floored. I've listened to it a ton while playing Madden '93 on Sega and I still revisit it every few years, giving it a thorough half dozen listens soaking it up, just exactly perfect.
nah
I like him, and this is good, just nowhere near as good as Moondance
This was really good!
I do not care for this album! The musical skill level is not great, the songs are long and bloated and self-indulgent. I do not think this holds up in 2025
Dag bang dig along bang doo long doo
The opener is worth 5 stars by itself, but the rest of the album drags this down to a 3. Cannot hold a candle to "Moondance"
This album is consistently hailed as one of the greatest of all time. Consequently, I have forced myself to endure it multiple times, hoping that it would ultimately “click” and I would get it. This project game me yet another shot on goal for this purpose. Nope. There are things I can appreciate. The backing band, complete with cool instruments like stand-up bass, is top notch. The lyricism is poetic. The mood some of the songs elicit - particularly Cypress Avenue, Madame George and the title track - can be trance inducing. But Morrison’s shrill distorted wail is grating, often pulling you out of the vibe. Most of the song are ill-formed and incomplete - little more than basic chord progressions - and they are almost all too long. You can see what people must appreciate about the record, but the negatives overwhelm the positives for me. I’ll keep trying, but I continue not to get it.
I can't help but love VM probably because of the time period and people I associate with his music. That aside, he is one of my favorite vocalists. Very much a soul singer, he sings just like he plays the saxophone with similar melodic lines and utilizing the full range of sounds his voice is capable of.
It’s van the man’s best album
Have and love this album
Brown Eyed Girl is not on this album - that's all you need to know.
The album's title implies a dreamy abstract atmosphere that is well captured in the very organic instrumentation, yet the lyrics and vocal delivery are what loose it for me. The strident bluesy vocals overpower the more serene jazz and folksy backing, and the lyrical themes I find largely uninteresting, though the story telling on Maddam George seems it's most inspired. Knowing that in just a few years we would get the likes of John Cale and Scott Walker deadens any impact, knowing that they would do more with the same abstract mix of pop, rock, and classical. It is possible here to hear the precursors of the likes of Talk Talk through the more mellow organic instrumentation, particularly in the few areas here were the vocals hang back then surge forward. In the late 60s, there was a better other Morrison on offer.
There’s some good stuff here, but his voice wears thin for me after a few tracks.
Hard to have a bad time with Van Morrison
Actually much worse than I remember. Not particularly interesting. Competent, well-crafted, but mostly manufactured rather than created.
Great songwriting!
WAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHLLLLLL he likes to yell a lot over the music. Jazzy backing music is nice enough, but he just blasts over it with little regard for tune, timing, or musicality.
3.5/5
Meh. Van doesn't do it for me.
Van Morrison is fine, it's just not for me.
I kinda get it but I kinda don't. I'll try again another time.
Really tough listen for me. Morrison's belting does not come across at all, and ends up feeling harsh and screechy. Rest of the instrumentation is largely uninteresting, but does have some pretty moments. Would be a lot better if Morrison toned down the intensity in his own performance to match the rest of the lower-key music
Nice
Started out kinda strong and I thought, "Cool! I'm gonna dig this one." It went on for far too long, though, and it was hard to differentiate one song from another as each track kinda blended together. The vocals, which I found charming and quirky at first, became grating and irritating. I'll give it 3 stars, I guess, but it could just as easily be 2.
i listened to this album about a decade ago because it is held in so high esteem and really was not fond of it. i haven't touched it since, so i was eager to give it a revisit. unfortunately, i still really do not get this album. i am not a huge fan of van morrison's music in the first place (and to be honest, not a fan of the person either) so i guess i am just not predisposed to like it. but quite frankly, i find this album boring. i don't find it beautiful, i don't find it enthralling. it makes me want to fall asleep. at the same time, it's not awful or anything, but i don't think it's the pinnacle of music like some people and publications make it out to be. oh well!
All timer. Probably listened 1000+ times in my life. Masterpiece
Even if I was listening full blast with headphones and my eyes shut this would still be background music. It's fine just not something I'd listen to again
Yeah not good. Interminable songs with little to no variation and Ol' Van bellowing over the top like an injured water buffalo. The only good parts are the jazzy instrumentals added afterwards by the producers. 1.0/5.0: Embarrassing
i've heard this album one other time and i hated it. listening to it it this time, i can say i still hate it. it's not that the songs are bad but they meander way too long. van morrison isnt doing anything interesting enough to warrant an almost 10 minute song
I liked the music and his voice. However, the album sounded like one long song
Favorite song: Madame George. Also liked Ballerina.
Strong "Like"
Timeless. Van Morrison's voice works in any decade. Mellow with a light growling edge at times. One of the premier American singer/songwriters of all time and this album is him in fine form. I actually am trying to listen to every album on the most recent Rolling Stone top 500 of all time list and listened to this album just last month. I have mostly skipped relistening to albums on this list if I have recently heard them but Astral Weeks is so good I gave it another spin. Top notch stuff.
Easy listening
was fine
Listened while falling asleep. It was good!
Ehh, not really my jam
Didn't have the hits, put me to sleep.
superb
I can't explain why, but this is tipsy on a few glasses of wine chatting with friends after dinner music
Van Morrison is THE artist for folk and blue-eyed soul. No one can compare. The way he sings is effortless, and his voice is just beautiful. The entire album is a charming and pleasant listen. It was too easy to keep Astral Weeks on repeat. Interestingly, I was reminded of very early Elton John. However, this album (Morrison's second) came out a year before John's debut, so Morrison must've inspired John. I first heard his follow-up album, Moondance, several hundred albums ago. I can't help but compare the two albums. I loved Moondance and gave it a 4 when it deserved a 5. While Astral Weeks is quite lovely, it has less whimsy and isn't as bright as Moondance. The songs' backing instrumentals, especially that flute, are so lovely and I'm thrilled Morrison included them again. All in all, Astral Weeks is good but a clear stepping stone to Moondance, perhaps Morrison's opus.
Van Morrison has such an unusual voice for folk music, but it really just works. It stands out and contrasts so nicely to the very relaxing jazzy folk music that he's singing over. And his lyrics are so incredibly poetic, too. Before 1001, I knew of Van Morrison, but was really pleasantly surprised by just how fantastic his "Moondance" album was. Well, here we are again with "Astral Weeks", and I'm loving this album, too. He is so much more than "Brown Eyed Girl", and I'm glad we got to see that on display on this project!
Gotta admit that one really disappointed me. I thought I would like it a lot, but somehow found it absolutely boring, almost unbearable at moments.
Not my sort of sound.
Kinda perfect. (I can see how much this must have inspired the Waterboys' Fisherman Blues, even beyond the obvious cover of Sweet Things.)
Calm, cool, collected
First impression is good. I love flute in music and really enjoy the instrumentals, especially in The Way Young Lovers Do. His voice is not my favorite.
Some real nice songs but not sure it's a 4 tbh
1.5
I'm not totally sure what this is supposed to be. Pretty janky vocal style overall, songs are too long, orchestrations don't flow well, mix doesn't sit in a great spot. Leave this one to the sands of time.
This is a weird one cause I really like Moondance, but Astral Weeks feels a little like Van Morrison’s b-sides to that record despite its earlier release. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t feel nearly as strong a record. And most of the songs go on about 3 minutes longer than is necessary. 3/5
Beautifully arranged songs delivered with an intensity that makes you take notice. You can’t listen to this album casually because his unbelievable voice demands your attention. He gives everything to every song. A little too freeform and jazzy in places for me maybe but overall superb
Van Morrison has a series of excellent tunes. Brown Eyed Girl is one of those songs that everyone loves and I have always been a big fan of Into the Mystic. Sadly, nothing on this album remotely comes close to either of those tunes. Frankly, a lot of this comes off as the same song over and over again, becoming a repetitive bore.
singer songwriter, blues, 1968 -> 3
Disjointed, warbly, inconsistent. Jazz backing is musically effective, but the vocal performance does not track well. Lyrics forgettable. 2.
Not my jam
Si y'a une chose que cet exercice m'apprend, c'est de pas me gêner pour distinguer ce que j'aime de ce que j'aime pas J'ai pas fini l'album though
This was awful. It was like he was just making up a melody as he went along, and not in a good way. Meandering songs that don't go anywhere. Stick a chorus in there occasionally, Van, it might make it listenable.
Listened to this at work. Calming for a stressful day. Was pleasantly surprised.
Not my fav Van Morrison album. He sounds like he is in the throes of something, and it's not always good. Beside You and Ballerina are particularly wail-y... But a couple good ones - I guess that evens it out to a 3.
Would listen again but no particular bangers
The perfect stoners album and a great double play when paired with Moondance. Shame Van is a bigot
Sweet Thing is one of my all time favorite songs. The way it continually builds and never completely arrived is so satisfying. Overall, a fine album by one of Irelands best.
He just mumbles over guitar. Songs too long
Some decent songs, but mostly dross.
Hard to believe this is the same guy who later created the wonderful, cohesive "Moondance" album. This is self-indulgent crap. Melody? Sometimes. Accompaniment that has anything to do with the vocal? Seldom. Frequent moaning in place of a melodic line? Sure. Instruments that sound like they were recorded separately by players not allowed to hear what the rest of the band was doing? Practically every song. The bassist is the only player that's interesting. Maybe this was good with 1968-levels of pot. It's not today. About the best legacy is that it later birthed a good Lou Reed song and a few good early Springsteen tracks.
This album while not offensive, so very samey, and very woah, woah, whoa-ey. Fine background music for trending cafes, but plenty of other, better albums that would satisfy the mood of this one.
A love-it or hate-it album, for sure. I love it, but it took me a few listens to get to that point. And when people tell me they hate it, I don't rush to its defense like I would with others. This is also an instance of separating art from the artist since Van is a well-known bell end.
Ещё одна фолковая запись в духе конца 60-х. Слушал в наушниках на улице и кайфанул в какой-то момент.
Pre-listening thoughts: YERR MY BROWN EYED GYIRL Post/during listening thoughts: ok so that song wasn't even freaking on here. Man he is just hootin and hollerin away! I wasn't really interested in a whole lot on here and every song felt really long. Not because it actually was long, it just felt like Van Morrison ran out of musical ideas and was just yelling half the time lol. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Sweet Thing Least fav tracks: Cyprus Avenue, Ballerina
I was not dancing in the moonlight. He sounds like he’s drunk the entire time. I can’t understand a single thing he says. Not a very enjoyable listen. 3/10
Love the music. Could do without his vocals
Somehow simultaneously boring and annoying. A few songs that were fun not for the most part. 2/10
There’s a reason this is considered one of the best.
Solid
For some reason this album really annoyed me. But it was also pretty good. Impeccable playing
This was a waste of the instrumentals (which are what get this its second star). Though at least Van Morrison didn't use the word "doodoo" in his lyrics, like the guy two albums ago. I think.
I'll be honest, I skimmed this one. But gets points for being classic.
This album just blows my mind. It seems like it is all singer songwriter, and it is, but it is also invigorating with a production so good, so subtly brilliant, you don't even realise how much effort is put into every second of this album. Add to all of this a voice so tortured and so beautiful, what you end up with is a unforgettable album.
3.8.
I remember hearing Van Morrison hates Brown Eyed Girl and now after hearing this album I understand why. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
decent album, doesnt have sing a longs but i guess its just a van morrison album so if you like him you like this album
Very chill. Morrison sounds very regretful of time going fast and choices he's made.
Kind of hard to believe it's been 18 months since my last Van Morrison album. Crazy. Well, a year and a half after listening to Moondance, it's finally time for me to visit Van Morrison's other highly acclaimed album, Astral Weeks. It's great! Obviously, it has been a while since I listened to Moondance, but everything that I remember enjoying in that album is present here too. It might even be better. I will say that it's a closer call than I'd like to admit. Astral Weeks is pretty cool. I enjoy Van Morrison's vocals for the most part. They fit the folkiness of the instrumentals while also adding a bit of a bluesy feel to the music. Pretty unique and admirable. Van's songwriting is pretty strong here. There's nice themes on songs like "Sweet Thing" and even some light storytelling on "Madame George." Pretty good stuff. The songs are all good. The pacing is respectable, unlike Van Morrison's thoughts on COVID, am I right? Still, that sort of thing isn't very relevant to an album like this. There are other artists that I like more, sure, but Van Morrison has proven himself to me as an artist who, at one point in time, made some pretty great music. Strong 4/5.
4/10
On the one hand, this is a great album — as background music while preparing dinner for a hot date, for instance. It’s romantic and lyrical and spiritual. On the other hand, it’s sprawling, unfocussed, and indulgent— as romantic, lyrical, and spiritual things can be sometimes. It’s got few of the hooks and little of the songiness of Moondance. On the whole, I think it’s a 3. It’s great for a specific application, but not a very versatile album. It's a 3 for now. I’ll listen to it again & see whether familiarity gets me by the self-indulgent tendencies of this album.
Not that keen on this album songs felt like they went on forever
One of my all time favorite albums. This is one of my desert island albums. Never tire of it. Van Morrison had a a great of albums at this time, and this was is serenity
Fantastic album. I’ve come to appreciate it more as time passes. I’ll say it again, Van the Man.
The young lovers song is good. The rest is Dylan-esque whining
These lyrics sounded like they were being made up as they went.
Was just a bit boring.
Nice and chill!
Astral Weeks is an alright album but it is certainly a forgettable one. Nearly every single song had basically the exact same sound with an acoustic guitar with the occasional flutes here and there and Morrison himself using a pretty soft voice. It sounds nice and definitely works as good background music but it's just not very memorable and is something i will most likely forget all about in due time. The one standout track is easily The Way Young Lovers Do as it is the only one that deviates from the formula and it is a generally very enjoyable song. This album in general though is just another one of those slow acoustic albums even if it still sounds good. Best Song: The Way Young Lovers Do Worst Song: Ballerina Side note: Since this will be my last Van Morrison album, I'll rank them all here; 1. It's Too late to Stop Now 2. Moondance 3. Astral Weeks
Van Morrison? More like Bland Morrison!
Some nice variety but not my jam. 2/5 stars.
Overall, dull. Not bad, just slow, and dull.
Van Morrison reminds me a bit of a male version of Jodi Michelle - talk-singing with a slightly whiny edge to the voice. His sound is steeped in blues, folk, soul, all wrapped in a distinct 1970’s bohemian renaissance faire aesthetic …feathers, whistles, bells, flutes, leather satchels, moccasins, long hair and dreamcatchers. It’s definitely transportive. I usually like a lot of instrumentation and layered sounds, but the polyphony felt a little much for me. That said, the more I listened, the more it did grow on me, (a little), and I can understand his impact and the stylistic niche he carved out. I don’t know that I’ll be listening to this particular album again, but there is something that can quietly pull you in.
1960s flute and violin macrame Renaissance Faire folk doesn't really do it for me, and this record is pretty full of it. That said, I'm more a fan of the raw, garage rock work of Them. I think Morrison's voice is more suited for howling over some fuzzed out guitars than literally anything else, (and that is a stretch itself since I find his vocals pretty grating). I worked at Tower Records when his 23rd record came out, "Days Like This." It was on the in-store play and I found it irritating as fuck having to listen to almost daily over the PA. Torture. This was never gonna land for me. This is the first record in the list I actively skipped though a couple songs. If zero stars were a thing....
He has done some reasonably decent track, shame none of them are on this one. The problem with Van is that after a few tracks his voice really grates, and becomes just plain annoying. 1 would be too harsh, but is it worth a 2? Hmmm, not sure, but I'll let him have them.
I like a lot of Van Morrison, however. I could t find much to like on here. Crazy flute and screechy vocals put me off. More Mulligan and O’Hare than Van the Man.
Musically it was very good, some nice mellow hippy vibes, then Van the Man opened his gob and continued to do so throughout the record. I wish he had kept it shut.
This was excellent, all eight songs were really good. The music especially was beautiful and exquisitely crafted, and his voice, while I can see how someone would view it as annoying, I really like, and he has a melodic sensibility I really like. The album is easily one of the best I’ve gotten in a while with only one or two from the last two weeks or so stacking anywhere close to this album.
I had no idea Van Morrison was an ar-tist. In my mind, this is the real him, and Moondance is the piece of shit it is because of meddling studio executives.
Well, darn it, this is a tough one. About 20 years ago I might have rated this album five stars. But that was before I became aware that the artist maybe became/is a not great person. This music is still great but there’s a shadow over it. On a lighter note, the band Secret Machines did a decent cover of the song Astral Weeks about 20 years ago.
Tempted to knock it down because Van is an anti-vaxxer but this album is transcendental in myriad ways. Can’t say much more, it speaks for itself.
I think Van Morrison had the second greatest 4 album run of all time, after Stevie Wonder. But Stevie isn’t a POS now (right?!)
Wow
Look, I’m not too into folk rock, most of this is just a lesser version of the Australian folk rock stuff that has released since, tho kinda impressive for the late 60’s. Liked that one jazz inspo song tho
Compared to what I know of Van Morrison from Brown Eyed Girl, I had high hopes for this album. However, my expectations were not met. A mix of incoherent mess and soulless songs made it feel really lacklustre. Unsure why this album is on the list.
by the second song I started getting angry for no reason. so no I guess.
this is another one of those folk albums where its enjoyable when you're listening and then you look back and realize you can't remember any of the tracks. 6/10
I had picked this album off of the few I have left because I thought the Mrs. and I could listen to it together. 20 minutes in she says: "Are... we still on the same song?" Almost every song sounded like him meandering. The first two were WAY too long. When I commented that he meandered, the Mrs. said "You... DO know this Van Morrison, right?" The only way I could tell some of the songs were different is the instrumentation: there was one that had a flute, and one with a trombone solo, I think. Otherwise, I just couldn't keep track of any of it. And that's never good. NEXT.
This is a pretty good album that goes on far too long. Van Morrison's vocals are incredible, his lyrics are sweet poetry, and he's got some great added instruments (flute, strings, different percussion) that give it a cool feel. But more than half the songs linger and meander, which is super frustrating. The title track is a great example - it's a beautiful song and it feels like he's winding down around the 4.5min mark, which is perfect, except he keeps going for another 2.5min. Madame George is another - I really enjoyed it for the first 5min but didn't really need the last 5min of scat singing. Cyprus Avenue and Ballerina would've made great 4-5min songs but they're both 7min. At least he got it right on Sweet Thing - 4min of beauty. There is magic here, but a tighter delivery could've made it a masterpiece.
Ok vibe over relatively simple repetitive songs. Makes for decent background music, but on close listen two things become evident: 1) the songs really drag on since they're so repetitive and 2) he's a really strange singer. Honestly no track stood out enough to make a list of favorite tracks. I'd call it a 2.5 and I'll round up for no good reason.
I really struggled with other Van Morrison albums. Maybe because I just kept expecting him to break into "Brown Eyed Girl". But I did actually enjoy this one. Apparently he went to pretty great lengths and angered a lot of people to make it (including a record label executive who died, with his widow blaming Van Morrison). But I have respect for artists who risk fame and fortune to make the art they believe in. In this case, blues-tinged pop was exchanged for less marketable folk and strong jazz connections. The result is an unexpectedly great album. I would have liked a slightly more stripped back version but it's still quite a success.
Very easy listening, but slooooowwwww, I was tempted to skip a few just to pick up the pace.
A strong folk album. Astral Weeks and Young Lovers Do.
This album gave me the vibes of a guy singing in the corner of a bar. That being said, I would go back to that bar. Also, "The Way Young Lovers Do" was an absolute JAM. I was not expecting a horns section while listening to this album.
I didn’t know what I expected but I didn’t expect to be bored. Having never listened to a Van Morrison album I think I went in expecting more Brown Eyed Girl vibes. This album just felt thrown together.
I can't believe people truly think this is a better album than "Moondance". I find the vocals here largely annoying, and the songs forgettable. Stop lying, you hipster posers, it's not that good.
I liked this, though his voice got on my nerves after a while.
Haven't listened to this in about 30 years. Didn't like it much then and don't like it much now. I want to like Van, I probably should like Van, but I don't (with the exception of **Them**).
Van Morrison is a dick, but wow has he made some great music and this album is one of his best!
Best of Van I've heard yet, however I felt most of the songs could have been 3 minutes shorter. 6/7 mins is fine if you're going somewhere but if you're just going to continue down the same path my brain doesn't want to know...
Not his best, but still good!
Jedan njegov album je dovoljan, dva su previše. Prošli me nije ovoliko iritirao.
Loved this. Like a folky Led Zeppelin with an upright bass.
Fine.
Solid little number
I enjoyed this one! It took a moment to get used to his voice - it added some texture to the songs. The instruments used also really added to everything. I really wish this site gave half stars in this case. I feel like its a solid 4.5, but not a 5.
i am not a van morrison fan. in fact the only song i like on this album is “the way young lovers do”. tis the most upbeat song on the album and it doesn’t sound like any of the other songs, which to me all sound the same.
I like some VM stuff but I wasn’t familiar with this album. It’s fine, I guess.
Nice
An incredible album where Van Morrison’s voice truly stands out as something wild and unique. His vocals are both intense and captivating, perfectly complementing the dreamy soundscape. I’m especially impressed by how the album blends so many musical genres, from folk and jazz to blues and classical, without ever feeling disjointed. On the contrary, it creates a deep, flowing, and spiritual whole. 5/5
4 This album brings back so many memories. Both of my parents loved Van Morrison and played this album all the time when I was a kid. Personally, I’m more of a ‘Moondance’ guy, but this album is a certified classic. I will say the only downside is most of the songs sound the same.
I've never really been a big fan of Van Morrison and his blend of Folk, Blues, and Jazz - and this album is no exception. I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
Van's an asshole and his voice is irritating but this does slap
Overrated
Feels more like a concept album, doesn't have the big hits of Moondance but the songs are still great, blend of folk, jazz and blues, it feels loose and introspective, more raw. I can see why it's very influential
This was an enjoyable album, a nice surprise. Who knew there was so much more outside of "Brown Eyed Girl"
Classic.
Soft
2.5 Okay cool grandpa music, Van Morrison sounds like he’s got Cotton balls in his mouth even more than he usually does on this album
For me not as super-wonderful as others find him!
A singular voice crooning sweet rock
oh god I hate this so much. van morrison's voice is grating and this is making me angry. I don't know how people find this to be beautiful. can't they hear his voice? make it stop.
Overall: 4/10 I think a lot of the instrumentation on this album is interesting and has moments of beautiful brilliance. It's Van Morrison himself that completely turns me off from enjoying this more than I do. The way he "sings" these songs isn't very melodic and feels like a stream of consciousness mess to me. The lyrics themselves are great but he's pretty much just talking over the music the entire time. I found myself getting incredibly annoyed by him at times. It's a shame, because I really wanted to like this one. Fav Song: Sweet Thing Least Fav Song: Beside You
Enjoyed this one all the way through, very good flow to it.
It wasn't until the end of the album that I realized this is the Brown Eyed Girl guy. It's dumbfounding to me how this album is rated so highly. No two songs should ever last 16 minutes consecutively like Madame George and Ballerina are.
I ebbed and flowed with this album almost as the album ebbed and flowed in my speakers. I went in thinking "eh, van morrison is overrated and boring". Each song was similar and blended into each other. However as I kept listening, I enjoyed how it swung and swayed. I liked that it was so similar as it drifted along from one part to the next. I don't like the individual tracks, which is what I'm used to from classic rock radio, but I really like the album as a whole, which is clearly how this is meant to be enjoyed.
I think I liked Moondance more, I really like the instrumentals but don't feel his voice fits them well. Really big fan of Ballerina Rating: 3.4
The sound of Van Morrison’s voice is unmistakable. If you are familiar with “Brown Eyed Girl,” you know the voice well. This collection is a strong representation of his vocal talent. The back half of the album does get a bit repetitive, with more camping and jamming than I would have expected. But, for the late 60’s I suppose it was not too unusual. Overall, a worthy listen.
Songs were too long but a few decent ones
I mean it's just pretty generic, isn't it?
Love his voice, so it's easy to like this. Wasn't aware of this album before.
One of the Great mystical, mythical, magical albums. Celestial and kosmic. Only Moon Pix for me has come.even close to catching its evocative spirit.
God I love this album. Firmly entrenched in my top 10. It never was as accessible as say, Moondance was, and takes some patience to fully appreciate with its dreamy and psychedelic celtic backdrop, yet Mr Morrisson is still able to deliver some top tunes in his unique vocal way. There is so much going on here I never get bored of it. The upbeat drive and horn section of “the way young lovers do” is 100% my thing and comes perfectly juxtapositioned between the beauty of Cypress Avenue and the delicate, timeless storytelling of his masterpiece composition of Madame George. I love how the line “hey love, you forgot your glove” delivers such a simple, down to earth, yet poignant line within the context of the song. It’s one if my all-time faves! Brilliant, utterly brilliant. I will never tire of this album.
Probably need to give this one another listen to really lock in my score, but thought that on the whole this was quite beautiful. A very successful mix of folk with the structures of jazz that just gives the whole album this very loose, almost improvisational form. Can see how this influenced a litany of artists and mad it took me this long to listen to it.
Boring
If there were an instrumental version of this album, I'd probably make it all the way to the end. Unfortunately, Van Morrison is vocalizing on it, and his voice is like a cheap door alarm. I just can't.
Great vibes. Wish these songs had choruses. I'm a bit Van Morrison head (despite his shitty politics). This one isn't my favorite of his, but it is still incredible.
He’s so good
this was not very good. you can tell it exists in the context of all the cool psychedelic rock of the late 60s but it doesn’t do anything good with it. just boring songs that are 3 minutes too long with Van talking/singing/screaming over the top
What’s remarkable about this is how free it feels but is still so groovy. The upright bass ties so much of it together.
Nice impressionistic album. The first songs are the strongest in my view, the album drags a bit towards the end with very long songs.
Supermarket music.
Think I'd really like this but wasn't in the headspace
Not as bad as I was expecting, probably wouldn't listen again but decent enough
Will definitely be coming back, this is a chill out all timer. Sunshine? Tinny? Van the man
It honestly sounded like every other Van Morrison album I've ever heard
Wirklich nicht sein bestes Album
It seems like a kind of music that I've listened to before, but I can't recall. Nevertheless, it sounds good. Good vocals, as well. But I feel I won't give it a second play.
This was pretty awesome. Great voice, great band, great songs. The Way Young Lovers Do was my favorite on first listen, but I will likely go back to this one.
meedium mid albumi