The Band

Had to force myself to finish it.

I would love to learn why there are more than a few instances of Canadian bands embracing the southern rock/Americana sound. Regardless this album is very uninspired/derivative, to say nothing of how disgraceful it is to have a song pining *any* sympathy for "Old Dixie". So many better ways to hear quality roots rock than from larpers

The Band’s The The Band Album with The Songs And Music was about as interesting as their naming conventions.

Not really much to say Was waiting for something special that never came.

Nice

I think I like this better than Music From Big Pink

Okay, vielleicht ist Satire nur eine begrenzt gute Lehrerin. Ich habe immer gedacht, dass The night they drove old dixie down ein ambivalentes Verhältnis zum Tod des weißen armen Confederate hätte, aber eigentlich nur ausgehend von "Am Tag als Andi Möller starb (und alle Schwalben weinten)" von den original Deutschmachern. Wie falsch ich doch lag! Damit fehlen mir wirklich die Argumente, das hier gut zu bewerten. Auch wenn ich es her ge-beatlejuiced habe, hier gefällt mir wenig und viel klingt nach verlorener Zeit. Meiner Zeit.

A little boring and then BOOM I’m up on cripple creek 😎

I don't know if I really understand the hype with this one. Somewhat interesting folk/country/americana rock, but it really just didn't click with me. While yes this was recorded and released in 1969, the production felt atrocious as well, super muddy vocals and sounds jarringly unfinished. Whispering Pines is great, though. 4.5/10.

This is fine, but I'm finding it difficult to care about it whatsoever. Like it's inoffensive, but I'd never choose it in a million years. I don't think I can give it a one or anything, but I'm just so bored. The boring ones are sometimes harder to get through than the really bad ones. Old white man soft rock.

Production or the mixing feels off, but I think the intent was to have that basement recording feel. Some good songs that feel like good ol fashioned honky tonk in the farm house. At the same time it's very easy for my mind to wander away and I think it's just slightly off for me that I don't find myself engaging fully. The bluesy folksy energy is strong and I would check out later albums to see if they shift it enough for me.

god sound

Boring ass snooze fest

It was fine. I'm still not a fan of The Band. I knew The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. It was ok.

Heck yeah. This is my kinda blues/americana rock type stuff! Compared to so many others who play this sound it’s warm, sincere, playful and without all the incredible smugness and swagger that is rife amongst this sound. I only really knew Music From The Big Pink and a couple of other singles before this, but it’s another quality helping of altogether solid tunes.

Good album. I like this vibe.

Definitely interesting, but I didn't hear anything that I felt was such a "wow factor" to made the album deserve more than a middle rating.

Pretty dated compared to other bands starting in 1968 including Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath!

Like, if the The Dead could tune their instruments and carry a tune. Pretentious in its SERIOUS commitment to lack of pretentiousness. I could do without it, and we already heard The Weight, right?

I really enjoyed this album. I will quote what another user said: “ Every song has just the right amount of twang and dirt”. There’s an authenticity, a timeless feeling to these songs. It’s perfect to listen driving down a country road on a summer night.

Amazing first half, second half is just good.

I was looking for a band. Instead I found THE Band. Search over, I guess. It's fine i guess.

A fine album to have on in the background while working. Nothing particularly interesting jumped out at me.

What does it mean when the best song on an album is another musical setting of the Lost Cause? As a mayonnaise-white Yank, I always sniffed the stink of old Johnny Reb on it, it was always seemed a bit to friendly to the legacy of the Confederacy; but I never felt like I could voice it the right way because of how much folks love the song. I am grateful for Ta-Nehisi Coates for articulating so beautifully what had long remained as a vague something in the back of my head, that he could not appreciate The Band "any more than a Sioux could marvel at the cinematography of They Died with their Boots On." It speaks to the omnipresence of the dark, seductive pull of the Confederacy on this continent that a white Canadian fell to its magic and sang its myths more than a century after the Civil War. I fear the same vile hex underlies my thoughts that maybe, this is a human-interest story of a devastated perpetrator, whose brain was so thoroughly broken by vainglory and vestiges of nobility that he did not recognize his own responsibility for his lot. Then I catch myself: why am I running defense for an imaginary slaver that lives in the mind of some Canadian man? Greater minds than the one of this mayonnaise-colored boy from Ohio can sort this bit out, but I find myself struggling to muster any appreciation for this song, their masterpiece. What a shame that the stars and bars blot out the light of this album. It presents to us Americana in a true sense: here is an Americana that ignores a line in the sand up north and recognizes the kinship between peoples on this big old landmass. It is musically compelling, with great performances all around, and its fruitfulness is evident in the music that followed.

Way better than I was expecting. Some funky tunes. Probably wouldn’t put it on but wouldn’t turn it off if someone else did

Very average to me, which is sad to me as I love their work with Bob Dylan

When I was much younger I saw a doco on "The Band". I was impressed by their musicality and the sharing of lead singing duties. I then got a "Best of the Band" CD that contains many of the tracks off this album. Also seen the movie "The Last Dance" about their farewell concert that also left an impression. Look up the cocaine incident from that concert. So no apologies for the score. I do like a song that tell a story and there are certainly lots of stories told here.

Band? More like good. Reminds me of my dad

From what I’d heard about The Band I thought I’d like them a lot but I found this really boring

Great songs.

The Band's music doesn't really speak to me, but I have watched The Last Waltz and I thought it was great. That's all I have to say about The Band, I guess.

Kinda Elton John predecessor in parts

That was a surprise. I had heard of The Band before (mostly people joking) and it was kn my listbof bands to listen to and now itbis finally ticked off. This is quite decent! The instrumental glistens and the album is quite diverse in rhythm, doing a really good rock and roll. Quite enjoyed discovering The Band and will be checking their discography. 4/5

CCR is not my cup of tea.

King harvest

Talk about exceeding expectations! The Band's self-titled looks like a plain old country rock album on the outside, but you should never judge an album by its cover (or a band by their name, for that matter). This album covers way more genres than just country rock, as long as you know where to look. Take "Up On Cripple Creek" or "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)." Those songs are funky! There's a clavinet there!! I would've never expected a country band to use a clavinet. "Whispering Pines" is a beautiful ballad, with chords that make me think of 70s soul. "Jemima Surrender" gets a little bit louder, possibly influencing the hard rock bands of the following decade. And then there's "Jawbone." That song is deceivingly complex. You've got a calmer intro leading into some really confusing (but really good) time signature changes. And somehow, that's the only track from this album under a million streams on Spotify!! Really, the only thing holding this album back is that it kinda falls off near the end, with the exception of the aforementioned "Jawbone" and "King Harvest." Songs like "Rockin' Chair" or "The Unfaithful Servant" just feel like filler. I highly recommend this album; you might be surprised what you find. ----- #0021 Heard on: 9 Oct. 2026 Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (37 / 341) Favorite track: Jawbone Least favorite track: Rockin' Chair

Most of the album was fine. More of a folksy sound than I care for, but I liked that multiple instruments were used. The one song I had a real issue with was, "Jawbone", some of it was fine but the drawling out of the word jawbone was irritating for me.

nice country rock very south sounding

Ok - this is nice. Lovely warm sound. Nothing particularly original going on, but the production and musicianship is spot on. Solid 3

Has a place. Classic hits. Not my jam. Live versions preferred.

oh it can't be that go- *the best music i heard ever*

I'm not overly familiar with their work, outside of the most well known songs, so I was curious. Wow. This was incredibly boring.

The Band is so important to us that we actually named our cat Levon, after Levon Helm. This is among the easiest 5 star albums so far. It’s a favorite of all time record.

excelente.

Another straight down the middle album. Not terrible enough to hate it, not exceptional enough to love it, not experimental enough to infuriatedly respect, nor without enough to dismiss. Just okay. So why on the 1001…?

Mid af

So here's a second album by The Band. The first time around, I thought the story and the result were pretty nice, but this is just more of the same. The only new thing: Robbie Robertson (sounds like his parents hated him) is following in the footsteps of his mentor Bob Dylan and now writes songs that only really shine as covers (“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”). I didn’t even notice what came after that song - apparently, it was so unremarkable that it didn’t stand out over breakfast. So, a solid 3/5.

They kept intro-ing songs with such cool grooves and then abandoning them as soon as the actual song started

A bunch of Canadians cos playing gas Southern Americans should be rubbish, but this album is pure gold. Every single song incredible. Possibly a few lyrics that haven't aged brilliantly, but everything else in terms of tunes, arrangements, playing, generally vive ia A+++.

not my thing, a bit slow.

Not a bad album at all but I’m still scratching my head at why it’s always quoted as a big influence on bands of the time. Some good songs and interesting lyrics in places but not sure it deserves its hallowed status. 3

This film should be played loud

It's fine. The singles are great, but some of it is too jug band sounding.

Great grooves. Great songs. So many people want to be them. They set a standard

Nothing more to say apart from it does exactly what it says on the tin- well maybe the album should have been called the album but apart from that a pleasant album created fuelledmon drugs and in the country no doubt! Best track- ‘jawbone’ Worst track- ‘when you awake’ but also ‘whispering pines! Was terrible too. 7/10

The Band - The Band It sounds like the cover looks. Just don't get why this middle of the road country rock is so revered. Robbie Robertson is not a great song writer and if they hadn't been Bob Dylan's backing band when he went electric would anyone really have made all this fuss? Best Track - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Worst Track - Whispering Pines 5/10

i was ready to have the Stop Making Sense take of the studio versions just don't hold a candle to the live recordings but honestly that Up On Cripple Creek recording hooooooo boy

still don't like the main singers voice. some better songs on this, somewhat object to the dixie song but it is what is on here probably still a 2 stars

Some classics on this one! Rating: 8/10

For the log cabin

It's pretty good folk rock music. It's a time and place kind of album, that is not really my time or place. Not bad, just not for me

Awww man. This album hits so hard. Incredible work by the boys. Across the Great Divide into Rag Mama Rag is a great start. And Dixie is one of my favorite songs period, despite the fact it’s got Confederate apologist lyrics (yes it’s problematic). The back half of the album has some of my favorite songs from the Band, including Rockin Chair, Jawbone, Unfaithful Servant, and King Harvest. Not sure if this album or Big Pink is better, but this is a gem

Damn this one was a mixed bag! I particularly enjoyed the epic instrumental moments. I already loved "The night they drove..." and "Up on cripple creek." Added "Jemima surrender" to that list.

Mid! I would have no trouble putting it on in the background, it was perfectly pleasant, but there were no big standouts and it made me feel no feelings.

The Band

boring

Not for me

*sigh*, more folk-rock bollocks. Whilst generally well played and executed, this bores me to tears. Lots of hokey pseudo-country stylings from a bunch of fellas that probably rarely left the city limits. I'm sure if you like this kind of thing, it would rate highly, but I didn't like it to start with, and the Generator seems determined to beat me over the head with it lately.

Ok

Richtig geile Platte. Wieso kannte ich die noch nicht, bis auf den Dixie song, der Vorlage für "Der Tag an dem Conny Kramer starb" war. 4,6 / 5

Buen recorrido

30/09/2026 I was not too fussed by this. It did not send the world alight for me, very run of the mill. Spotify listeners: 3.6 million

Didn't love this one — just wasn't my jam.

The kind of music me and my dad can agree on.

The review of the album "The Band" by The Band: First two songs are very misguiding. They are little fun charming folk roots rocks with a nice variety of different instruments and a nice rhythm. But from here it just become slow and boring country/folk rock. The only thing I can give them credit for is for having some changes of rhythm here and there, incorporating some occasional upbeat moments but keeping the slow pace in general, some decent riffs (like in the beginning of "Jermima Surrender" because it disappears afterwards), an alright touch of folk and the already mentioned variety of instruments, including the voices, as they constantly change lead singer for each song. But overall, don't really like it. Very promising start but disappointing in general. At least is not painfully boring thanks to the diversity.

a classic sound, takes me back to happier days

The band produces music

Pretty good. I like how raw it sounds. “Up On Cripple Creek” is a classic.

Awesome classic rock album. The harmonies, the songwriting, and the musicianship all top-notch.

Very pleasant to listen to! Maybe needed more drugs for my taste in 60s music, but still rocked

Feelgood - ikke så glad i denne type musikk, men igjen så kan det funke i riktig kontekst. 3 av 5

Ya know what, I'm a sucker for some Americana. The 2nd half of the album kinda blends together for me but it starts really strong

Probably 2.5 but rounding up, fine in parts but feel like there's better examples of similar music elsewhere, early doobie brothers and csny for example

Fav: Rockin’ Chair, King Harvest L: Rag Mama Rag 3.5 I feel in time there’s a good chance I’ll come to like this one a lot more. I felt like there was a good variety of songs in here and while not all of them grooved with me enough of them did and the others didn’t get in the way enough to detract from the good. Cover: 2 not very creative Name: 3 no title albums are kind of cool because you essentially allow the community to name them which I think is cool. However it also can make searching and cataloging difficult. I’m not sure this is what happened here but I think this is one that maybe a good title would give a good banner for the music to fly under. Minecraft Parody: The Night My Dog Fell in Lava

The Gay Band be like " The night they drove the dicks in us" Jawbone (gay) W: the night they drove old Dixie down L: I wrote the rating above then forgot to finish and submit. Now I don't really remember how I felt about it. That's what I get for playing catch-up. I think I liked it well enough. Idk I've given out so many 2.5s and 3s this week. 2.5/5

Nací en la epoca equivocada. Canción fav: the night they drove old dixie down. Lo volvería q escuchar? Probablemente sí

Antes me preguntaba por qué uno no conocía tanta bandas de esta época más allá de las obvias, pero es porque las otra otras no son memorables realmente. I mean, se autonobraron the band...

Not my thing, sorry Canada

Good vibes. Didnt really grab me, but talented musicians and well structured songs. Favourite tracks: Up On Cripple Creek, King Harvest

Okay album. Definetely not my type of music. That type of americana rock is not my thing, however i will say that it has some better songs. Really it just didn't catch me. Not bad music, just average and forgettable in my opinion

Not for me thanks.

No

I can listen to this again and again and again and never get bored.

Good solid album.

The transition between songs was a bit jarring at times, but pretty good otherwise.

Not my favorite the band album 3/5

Needed

#242 I will start off by saying that I love The Band; there is a lot for me to learn about them. I also love this album. In ranking their albums, its probably #1 for me, but I don't think its a 5-star album the way I think other 5 star albums are. In reading about these guys, you find out how sad their story ends up being, and some of these songs reflect that. Other songs are just great storytelling. There is a lot to like on this album, and throughout the rest of their albums too, and that is not even counting the sessions and albums where they worked with Bob Dylan. These guys are definitely worth the listen as a music fan. Biggest Hit - Up On Cripple Creek Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - The Unfaithful Servant Hidden Gem - Whispering Pines (such a touching song)

Overall liked this. Preferred the more upbeat ones. Jawbone my fave.

5/10 - not a lot in either direction. It makes sense that they were a studio band.