Reviews (page 12 of 12)
Nice and blues. Cool to hear the band that did the weight. Not sure I would relisten
Listened to most of it, was as expected, saw them 10 years ago!
Nothing special, just typically folk rock that sounds like it was on the radio in the 60s. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: the night they drove old Dixie
some highlights and some truly dull moments. don't love it. best tracks: across the great divide, the night they drove old dixie down, king harvest
Bit bland...
Leuk achtergrond album, verder niet heel bijzonder
Love “Cripple Creek” - was able to feel the relaxed vibe of the album but did not find a groove. I think there was too much rock to be folk and not enough energy to be rock. I like southern rock with more energy - didn’t feel like the brass section added a lot on this album.
Pretty boring and very white southern male
Average
Album was generic
Not for me
Not for me I guess. Reminded me of CCR and Tom Petty but not as good.
Total snoozefest - there was the odd bit of interesting guitar here and there, but mostly just dull as ditch water.
Liked Rag Mama Rag but other than that it wasn’t my thing
Meh
Not really my type of music.
A staple of old folk rock that fits in well in a Playlist but other than drove old Dixie down these feel like meat and potatoes, classically good but blends in with its peers.
Quite bland for my tastes
This just wasn’t my vibe ! Sawwy
Classic rock. Mix of blues and folk and rock. The mix could be clearer. 2 stars
Difficult to listen to, very old-fashioned and American, but I can see why it is on this list due to originality
meh
cannot relate.
Never got the hype with these guys, despite a few real tries. It's all so...fine? Feels like a college project about americana - well thought out, tastefully arranged, and performed skillfully, but without any real gusto it ends up pretty bland and lifeless. I didn't realize the last few songs on the album are so good, but it turned out Spotify was just auto-playing Gram Parsons and Buffalo Springfield.
Nothing in my life has changed by listening to this album. The only impact it has had on me is some wasted time.
Good at their genre but its not for me
Did nothing for me this. Sounded very samey in terms of songs and in comparison to its peers. A couple of ok parts but I couldnt get on board. Not sure how it gets so much hype. 1.5 rounded to a 2 as it’s clear they are good at what they do, but what they do aint for me
Thought this was bearable. It had some good tracks, some awful and most just forgettable. Highlights: Rag Mama Rag Jawbone King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
This sounds too much like Randy Newman's part-time country funk band. No thanks.
I'm not nearly American enough to understand the appeal of "The Band" and I don't particularly care. I just thought this was mostly a bit boring. Might have caught me on the wrong day but I think it's that flavour of American country rock that I just can't really enjoy. There were a couple of songs I kind of liked, but yeah, just not for me. Favourite: Jemima Surrender
2/5 Best: Up On Cripple Creek Worst: King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
They look like a bunch of rogues don't they? Music was alright but nothing to wow me, thanks.
It's kind of funny that I got this so close to a Bob Dylan album, but this left a lot to be desired. Felt boring the whole thing, and gave a vibe the same way CCR does for me where it feels close to being something I like but instead just feels like southern rock 'n' roll stereotypes all rolled into one album. I have nothing wrong with this, just disappointed really. Hope Music from Big Pink is better.
can we stop with the 60s music now? this was marginally better than music from big pink but did not leave an impression on me.
Not my cup of tea but nice mixture of Country, blues rock.
Got 2.5 songs in and quit
Meh.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Not for me Favourite song: didn’t have one
No sé bien qué pensar, supongo que adelantados para su época. Canciones correctas, no me genera mucho...
It was ok not my taste of music but was well put together and preformed. Has a country feel with a little bluegrass thrown in.
Its The Band! OK album. Old country rock style.
Oh look, another circa 1970 Americana/roots-rock album. Is that all it takes to be included in the book? Because this is as dull as the band’s name.
This turned me into a 78-year-old man and I’m not sure I wanted that
This was pretty milquetoast classic rock. Some cool horn sections but otherwise completely fughet-able
This was quite bland and unenjoyable.
Love the last song but the rest, not for me really!
Boring
хзз наверно, для того времени это было интересно сейчас абсолютно проходным альбом ощущается
Ну как корабль назовешь, так он и поплывет. Есть пару интересных песенок, в остальном база база для того времени == нудная хуета сейчас
SÅ STOPPER DET
Nothing much interesting to me here. Like The Band, but this was too much on the folk side rather than the rock side. Favorite track: Look Out Cleveland
Started well but trailed off later in the record. Can hear some influences on Springsteens early records here. Nice listen but probably wouldn’t revisit
Maybe the best backing band in the 70's
I feel like I'm "supposed" to like this album more, and while it's not bad, it's not something I would listen to often. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding
Meh, I'm bored. Not convinced here.
Dylan-backing band nonsense. How can the best song on the album be Cripple Creek, one of the most annoying songs of all time? Writing this I talked myself down a star in my rating
I gotta explore more of their catalog. Only really care for 2 songs off this album
Honky and tonky. Stood out to me as much as the band name did. Which is to say: Not much. That is definitely "An album" by "The Band".
Was alright. A little boring for me. Up On Cripple Creek was the standout song for me, despite the name
bad 2/5
Dull
A mind-numbingly dragging album, with a band name as mundane as the music. There are some pretty good songs like King Harvest and Look Out Cleveland but, like jazz, I just cannot relate to or enjoy folk rock as a whole.
Mostly unremarkable
That‘s so handmade that The Band must‘ve had horny hands. Great American Songbook. 2.4
Not a huge fan
Alright, new, no melody
Meh
2. Some cool instrumental parts but overall boring.
Not my type.
I can see why people might like it, but this was pretty dull to me. Not especially terrible, just not very interesting.
Dad Rock. Boring.
On paper this should be a band that I would enjoy, but there's something about it that I just don't like. The music is good but there's something about the vocals that just aren't hitting my ears right...it feels like their voices clash when harmonizing and there's a goofy aspect (Randy Newman-esque) to a couple of the singers that just makes me cringe
Not really my vibe
ehhhh
Across the great DIVIDE
Even in the first few seconds of the first song I can hear what influenced The Grateful Dead and others like it. I would consider myself a fan of blues rock, but I’ve only heard of the Band in passing and of course have heard the Weight, but never anything off this album. I’m not gleaning any particularly spectacular musical talent with any of the instruments, it’s just some guys vibing and singing about Cripple Creek. It was novel for the first few songs, but halfway in I’m ready for something different. Also, is no one talking about how problematic Jemima Surrender is??Looking at the cover art and listening to the organ and fiddle in these songs, I feel like I’m in the middle of the Gold Rush and I just stopped into the saloon after a long day of panhandling for gold. The Wikipedia talked about this album reflecting life in America, and I guess I don’t know enough about the 60s/70s to corroborate, but this just seems too old for even then. But then again, I can see them performing at Woodstock. My journey with this project has been short, but already from each of the few albums I’ve listened to already that is the main theme: each is timeless and yet represents its time period perfectly at the same time. I guess that’s what makes good music, when it stands the rest of time. I don’t know if I can agree with the critics however, it certainly isn’t better than Abbey Road, and Abbey Road is my least favorite Beatles album. My favorites: Rag Mama Rag, Up on Cripple Creek, King’s Harvest (Has Surely Come) (which btw sounds like a Schoolhouse Rock song?)
Dit is niet The Band voor mij in ieder geval.
Ik denk niet dat ik dit ooit echt interessant ga vinden. Ik vind het saai en gedateerd.
Wow this is bland. Must have used up all their creativity on the band name.
On en a gros
traversée du désert musical imminente j'en ai bien peur
So so.
Sure is a band.
very 60s, didn’t hate, didn’t love
More like the BLAND amirite
Feels like a compilation of 70s sitcom theme songs with a folky bluegrass twang.
Just not a folk guy. 2/5
Ehhhhhh really just not for me. But according to Pete they are really good.
Dull americana
The Band. Sound is pleasant, easy country listening, could do without the confederacy love though. Also one of those that clearly made the list for its impact at the time rather than doing anything special and long-lasting.
Meh 2
They should change names to The Banned, so nobody ever has to hear of them again. Right? Right? Or The Bland, because of how dull it is, yeah? Nah...but, honestly, it wasn't very good really. 😕
I listened to this, I can confirm it exists. I have nothing further to say.
Not as good as I expected it to be
Blues Rock and Folk Ballads. Nothing that stands out for me. 2/5
vissa låtar är roliga och lite svängiga men generellt sett inte så bra
The least interesting of the Southern rock I’ve heard so far.
A bit too country for me. Not bad but nothing great here.
Odd to hear a Canadian band sing about dixie... but I guess there is a deep south canada isn't there?
Honestly, was hard to actually listen. Was just not that interested. The jam shows talent but I just didn't get into it. Is it me? Also, some of the southern, Dixie, references have too much of a weighted past to really enjoy.
Não gostei
Jamais entendu parler de ce groupe. C'est pas que j'aime pas, mais je n'entends aucun intérêt . 2
Medium taste album, pretty similar to the Beatles in some song, but general a vanilla album
Eh.
A museum piece.
Forgot I was even listening 2/5
Lievästi sanottuna vittumainen päivä ja meni levy vähän ohi, mutta eipä siinä tainnut juuri mitään mieltä ylentävää ollakaan....
Some pleasant folk I guess?
The second half was a lot stronger than the first half but overall still very boring to listen to
nah, bit dreary
That took all of my strength to get through. Not my thing. I like a lot of albums from the 60s. So that’s not it. Why all the hype with this? Their last show was supposedly the second coming. 1.75 stars
I was just completely bored throughout this album. This album was not fun to listen to for me, sorry.
It was an okay experience. Not overly my cup of tea but I respect and appreciate the guitar work and overall songwriting. The couple of singles have certainly grown tiresome over the years, tho they're not without a certain charm of life.
57 The Band - The Band 12 tracks. Too lazy to create a band name never mind about name their album, the music is just as lazy. Little bits of quality surrounded by loads of mediocrity. 2/5
I have three 5s in the last 5 days, so I guess I was I my zone and this one took me out of it. For it it was boring and couldn’t listen to it in only one sit
Es un clásico con buenas canciones, cada canción tiene su toque especial, pero creo que no es para mí
Funky but in a kind of generic way. Looking at the date, it seems like similar music that I'm familiar with from the 70s originates with this album making it proto-70s funk. neat.
Very old school. Not my favorite.
meh
Too slow and country for me!
I was always a Band fan. This shows me I'm more of a fan of The Band's greatest hits/The Last Waltz. I hate it but this is a 2.5 for me dog.
not totally sure how to categorize this. kinda blue grass I guess. 2.5
I like what this album may have inspired, but overall I'm not really a fan. Track 5 has a really cool lick though. Highlights: Tracks 1, 3, 4, 12.
хз
1, 2 ganz nette Songs
false
Their sound is okay, just a little quiet for my taste. They could be pretty funky if they tried, but they're pretty chill instead, with some base guitar. Probably a 2/5 unless songs 6-12 get better.
Not the biggest fan of this genre of music
Meh
Band without Dylan is no bueno
Boooring
I don't like
Another late 60's Americana/roots/folk/country/blues rock thing I firmly believe I won't listen to (in fact, just listened to the first song).
Meh
Great band but this album is not my favorite offering from them. Huge fan of their live stuff.
Unpolished. Fun swamp rock vibes.
Helt ok, mysigt i bakgrunden. Kanske lite country/dylan för mig, men ej dåligt.
Not my favorite but def a great show of musicianship
Enjoyable and breezy, but nothing super memorable! I prefer the cover version of "Drove Old Dixie Down". A few songs stood out, "Look Out Cleveland" was fun!
If I was trying to be purely objective I think I would score this higher, but it's veering a bit too close to country for my own tastes. Not for me, and I can't imagine ever revisiting, but I wouldn't run to turn it off if it came on the radio.
This just isn't for me. It's fine, there's nothing bad about it, but I don't see myself ever coming back to this album. 2/5
Ok but pretty mundane, like their name
Meh
The Music on The Band by The Band
first impression is weird but not bad? just not my kind of thing. nah the politics on the night they drove ole dixie down ruined it for me. 0/5
The more I listen to this kind of music, the more I realize it’s just not my thing. It feels way too laid back and samey for my taste. Just very boring. Feels like there are so many albums from this era that sound like the same slop.
They're as interesting as their name.
I did not enjoy listening to the band by the band
Maybe I’m just too much of a yankee to get it, but albums like these age worse for me with each passing year. I remember some of my friends playing these tracks in college and finding them charming, but now, not so much. Not something I’m interested in listening to again.
I have a couple of issues with this. First off - the songs. I don't like any of these songs. I understand that music like this was incredibly popular in the 60s and 70s, but it never did anything for me. And the 2 radio hits I've had to hear my whole life and not exempt for that opinion. Then there's the name. I know where it came from and why they chose it. But, seriously!? The AUDACITY to call yourselves THE Band is enough to turn me off of ever listing willfully.
I hate it
Not my cup of tea.
Some music just wasn't made for me
Bored me to death
What have I learned from this? Listening to music, no matter what it is whilst driving makes it sound better and earns it a star. That is the only reason this gets a star. American drivel rock at its best, absolute dog shit !
Je n’aime pas la country !
I gave the album a fair shot, I played it twice, but I just couldn’t fully engage with it. In a way, that might have been for the best, because once I started paying closer attention to the lyrics, it actually put me off. What really stood out to me was the way women are portrayed. It often feels reductive or dismissive, which makes parts of the album uncomfortable to sit with. On top of that, there’s a strong romanticisation of the American South that leans into a kind of Lost Cause narrative—framing it as a place of elegance and honor, while glossing over the historical realities tied to racism and oppression. At times, elements that feel connected to that history are presented almost as “charming”, which doesn’t sit right from a modern perspective. Altogether, it creates a disconnect for me: even if the music itself is influential or well-crafted, the themes and imagery make it hard to appreciate without reservation. ------------------------------------------- co to ma być? jacyś kanadyjczycy udają amerykanów ktorzy romantyzują czasy niewolnictwa?
country is evil
Truly awful
Why? ................. why? ................... why?
I’ve heard this one before. I think it’s in my dad’s collection but I don’t believe I listened to the vinyl. There are a few songs on here I like, especially Cripple Creek because I’m a sucker for some yodeling, but most of this is bland country rock that isn’t very interesting. I truly can’t stand The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Some people say it’s meant to be an antiwar song but I don’t buy it. There’s a load of Lost Cause imagery in this and the song is elegiac and a Canadian of all people shouldn’t fall for this crap. Fuck Robert E Lee, fuck any type of confederate apologia, and fuck this song. Bumping this down a point for the dixie garbage.
Tu connais le tarif
Pretty slow. One star
A snooze fest
not really my style of music in the first place, but the confederate apologist shit in there really makes this unlikable on both a technical and spiritual level. you can do better than this, canada.
I’ve tried with this one. I really have. But every time I put it on, it just kind of drifts by. The songs are well played, the harmonies are nice, everything sounds warm and “authentic,” but nothing grabs me. It feels careful to the point of being sleepy. I keep waiting for a moment that hits hard or shifts the mood, and it never really comes. By the end, I’m not annoyed, just bored. And that’s worse.
A joke
No, just no. Feels cheap and cheesy. Lacks depth in lyrics, storytelling, musicality, production value, and funkification. I bet these guys call themselves THEE Band, and that tells me all I need to know. This album feels like a prank. Give me CCR over this gaggle of goons any day.
Definitivamente no es mi estilo.
u redu je ali moze zanimljivije da bude dosta opet nesto pevaju o robovima ne mogu vise booooriiiiing
nah
Drivel. Waste of time for them to record such trash.
Meh
A proper dirge of an album, with only 'Up on Cripple Creek' really doing anything for me. Properly struggled pushing through the tedium of finishing this one, resulting in my first 1 rating of the project to date (at album #17). I hope to never hear anything from 'The Band' (lol what a bad name) again.
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Was ein Dreck…
Nearly unlistenable in 2025
eugh
impossível ouvir isso aqui e achar uma vibe, olha o que você fez beatles
meio devagar e não consegui get into it
I just didn’t like it that much
Didn’t quite click for me.
Sounds like every other 60s wannabe blues band
I just couldn't get into it sorry.
I don't know what is more bland and boring, the band name, the album name or the band itself. I just don't get so many of the picks on this list.
Kanadensisk herpa derp
Zuerst noch ok, dann wurde es immer egaler bis ich’s nicht mehr hören konnte. Zur Mitte abgebrochen
I get that The Band (stupid name) is influential and that explains why they are on the list. But even still I wonder why they have TWO albums on this list, both of which are such a massive waste of time. I hated this more than the other one, whose name I can’t even remember at this point. I did not enjoy the singing, which sounded out of tune sometimes. I did not enjoy the cacophony of instruments. I did not enjoy the style of music. Once again, PLEASE let’s leave this behind in the 60s.
I live my life in a way that avoids exactly this type of countrified 60's R&B The least interesting entry in the 1001 Album challenge so far Nope - 0/5
I am not a big country fan. I have few exceptions to that. The Band unfortunately doesn’t make that cut. I didn’t like any of the songs.
Seems like its a bunch of Canadians cosplaying Americana. I can't. Its gibberish about farmers, rags, confederates. Anyone who likes this is going to be a pretentious twat or parroting a rolling stone article they read when they were 12. Absolute tripe.
There was one song that caught my interest. Nothing more.
Again with this yankee folk bullshit. Even "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" sounded like crap, I love the Johnny Cash version, even Joan Baez's version sounds better to me. I'm finding out I really don't like american cuntry and folk, or atleast am very picky about it.
The Band. The Bad one.
Till en början kändes det som att det skulle vara relativt trevlig, men sen blev jag uttråkad o till slut var jag helt less på albumet. Försökte mer än en genomlyssning men nä, inte min typ av texter eller sound.
Gubbe gubbe gubbe gubbe gubbe. Beste låt: Nei.
Nope
The Band. You could read that one of two ways. It could mean “that’s THE band”, as in a group who is truly great. Or it could be more like “who’s playing? I don’t know, the band”, as in “I have no clue who that is.” While I know who The Band is, this album is decisively in the latter camp for me. There is nothing that is interesting about this album. Even the hit, Up on Cripple Creek probably should have an “a” where the “i” is, because it’s an average song at best. There’s just so little here to really be that excited about. I guess at points like on The Unfaithful Servant, I could hear something that pre-dated early Counting Crows, but even that had me thinking, I could go for listening to August and Everything After right now rather than this. Evidently this is a concept album, though I would much rather listen to Pink Floyd’s The Wall or Queensryche’s Operation Mindcrime album. Just a below average album from a below average band that is unremarkable on both fronts.
Do not understand the appeal - this is boring as shit from start to finish. They sounded great with Bob Dylan and his songs up there in front of them, but this is just dreck, so far as I am concerned.
Band isn't entirely playing together in some places in the album, like they just heard the singer come in with a great idea and they all just tried to wing it and play along. Is "Jemima Surrender" about rape? Couldn't wait for it to be over.
This was tedious and self-indulgent. The sort of music a certain type of guy finds "important".
In most songs I found the vocals and the way it produced grating and hard to listen (Whispering Pines being the exception).
it was decent, but folk/country really isn't my thing
Guess you had to be there. Easy listening follky stuff, not for me!
No thanks. Maybe there is something profound or interesting about their lyrics which I missed but musically it was boring and tedious. And calling yourself The Band is the height of wanker-ness. Dad - unsure Dust - probs not your thing
Still don’t like the pretentiously named band. Don’t need to record “the night they drove old Dixie down,” boo hoo the south. Meh I say. Couldn’t finish it. Thus 1 star.
meh. Would I listen again: No Deserves to be on this list: No 1.2
this is such a disjointed listening experience. pick a lane instead of being bad at all of them. the gall to call yourself THE band. you're barely AH band
Needs a more original name.
I can see why this made the list. The musical arrangements The Band was able to pull off in this album are truly inspiring. It must have inspired every white, middle aged man with a beard to pick up a guitar and pretend to play the guitar with their best boyfriends. They will of course play for free at their local brewery, church picnic ,or maybe even a Texas Roadhouse if they are oh so lucky. I’m kidding of course. Texas Roadhouse is a little too big for those folks. Maybe they should partner with a Bojangles, or the Chevron that hosts the “my wife kicked me out of the house because I like bourbon more than her” mixer. Everyone should thank The Band for being the trailblazers that they were. Whatever would we have done without this.
The first notes and melodies promise more, but then the song is destroyed by the country-inspired vocals.
I would think that by excluding country and folk, it would catch this but I guess not. Man do I hate Americana.
Not for me. 1/5
Do we really need two The Band albums on this list? No, the answer is No. I heard everything I didn't need to hear the first time around. So I listened to this thing all the way through but it wasn't easy, didn't like it, and don't want to do it again. There better not be a third The Band album on this list.
Why is this album on the list? There's isn't a single notable song on the entire album. Nothing that screamed at me "listen to me again". The only song on the album I'd heard before was "Up on Cripple Creek", and that song really isn't that good. It's just '60's roots rock nothingness. Rating: 1/5. Hard pass.
A record I specifically despise. Not that the songs are all bad, on the contrary, some great ones her, but all massacred by the sub-par (albeit potentially intentionally so) delivery, terrible voices, inconsistent sonics, incidental and misplaced fade-outs, stylistic inconsistency. Sounds like a band demoing to a producer, asking whether they shall go vaudeville-country (don't think that really exists), country funk, Nashville style or whatever in between.
Way to Slow and boring
Xxx.
Da heisst s erste Album vo The Band tatsächlich au The Band und ned The Album, was für e verpassti chance Leander Leadsinger, Daniel Drummer, Balthasar Bassist und Gilroy Guitarist!! So, denn chunt die Band scho es zweits mal, bzw. szweit mal chund e Band wo The Band heisst, WILL s erste album vom Leander, em Dani, em Balthasar und em Gilroy hani sehr sehr guet in erinnerig und dütlich spannender und wenniger rednecky wie jetzt das. Und da frag ich mich: isch es würklich die glich band "The Band" oder isch The Band eifach es Sammelbecki vo allne Amateurbands miteme Hang zur Comedy? Ufjedefall chund mer bi dem Album wider chli de Ärger uuf wie d Amis hald es musigindustrie-monopol gschaffe het obwohl so Ami-kack eifach ned die best musig isch. Und wahrschindli biz dur die überamerikanisiert verzwiiflig, aber au willi das Album nüm lose wird, strecki nur ein Mittelfinger richtig Donald Trump PS. sind scho die gliche boys
All the worst parts of soft rock and country, mixed together for your enjoyment. And lemme tell you, there was not a lot of enjoyment on offer. Sorry, the band The Band of 'The Band', but this was rubbish.
I don't say this about many albums, but I really, really HATE this album.
horrible american stuff 1/5
More like "The BLand" Not for me.
no thank you
Aujourd'hui, The Band, l'album éponyme, le classique, le monument intouchable du roots rock américain. L'oeuvre qui a, paraît-il, poussé Eric Clapton à dissoudre Cream pour chercher quelque chose de plus "vrai". Le disque qui a défini ce qu'on appellera plus tard l'Americana. Un album de 1969, putain ! L'année de Woodstock, de Led Zeppelin II, de Abbey Road, de In the Court of the Crimson King. L'apogée d'une ère de créativité folle, d'expérimentations sonores, de révolutions. Et moi, pauvre con de 54 balais, je suis là, assis dans mon fauteuil, et je me fais chier. Oui, le mot est lâché. C'est peut-être un blasphème pour la chapelle du rock authentique, mais l'honnêteté, c'est la base de ce carnet de bord, non ? Alors soyons clairs : cet album m'a laissé de marbre. Froid. Indifférent. Comme un documentaire en noir et blanc sur la culture du maïs dans le Nebraska au XIXème siècle. Pourtant, sur le papier, tout y est. On parle des mecs qui ont accompagné Dylan lors de sa tournée électrique, la plus houleuse de l'histoire. Des musiciens de l'ombre, des virtuoses discrets qui, fatigués des excès psychédéliques de la côte Ouest, décident de retourner aux sources. À la terre. Aux racines. Le concept est bandant, je l'admets. J'adore cette mythologie. Quand je tenais ma boutique de disques, j'en ai vendu des palettes, de ce genre d'histoires. C'est le genre de came qui plaît aux puristes, aux mecs qui te disent que la musique, c'était mieux avant. Mais la vérité, c'est que la musique, elle doit surtout être bien maintenant. Et la production de cet album, mon Dieu... elle a pris un coup de vieux monumental. Ça sonne plat, sans relief, comme si les mecs avaient enregistré dans une grange en bois avec des couvertures sur les amplis pour ne pas réveiller les vaches. Où est la dynamique ? Où est la pêche ? On est en 1969, George Martin faisait des miracles avec quatre pistes, Glyn Johns enregistrait un son de batterie qui pouvait faire trembler les murs, et là, j'ai l'impression d'écouter une vieille cassette audio qui a passé l'été sur la plage arrière d'une bagnole. Je sais, je sais. On va me dire que c'est voulu. Que c'est "organique". Que ça respire l'authenticité. Foutaises. C'est juste daté. Pour moi qui ai grandi avec le punk, la new wave, et qui ai vu l'explosion de la production léchée des années 80 et 90, ça ne passe pas. C'est une barrière quasi infranchissable. Passons sur la forme, et parlons du fond. Les thèmes. On est en pleine guerre du Vietnam, l'Amérique est à feu et à sang, et The Band nous chante quoi ? Des histoires de la Guerre de Sécession, de fermiers ruinés, de syndicalistes en grève, de misère et de famine. C'est un album sépia, poussiéreux, qui regarde constamment dans le rétroviseur. C'est un cours d'histoire, pas un album de rock. Chaque morceau est une petite nouvelle, une tranche de vie d'une Amérique rurale et oubliée. C'est admirablement écrit, je ne le nie pas. Les mecs sont des conteurs hors pair. Mais l'émotion, bordel ? Où est l'émotion ? Soyons juste, il y a deux, peut-être trois titres qui sortent du lot. Évidemment, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Impossible de rester insensible à cette complainte sudiste, à cette mélodie poignante. C'est un chef-d'oeuvre absolu, une chanson qui transcende l'album et qui justifie à elle seule sa place dans l'histoire. Il y a aussi "Up on Cripple Creek", avec son rythme boiteux et son clavinet funky, qui apporte une bouffée d'air frais et un peu de légèreté. On sent enfin les mecs se lâcher un peu, sourire. Pour le reste... c'est une longue procession de complaintes mid-tempo qui finissent par toutes se ressembler. Je comprends l'importance historique de l'album. En 1969, ce retour aux sources était probablement une claque, une bouffée d'oxygène pour ceux qui suffoquaient sous les couches de flanger et de sitars. C'était un acte de résistance contre la sophistication. Mais en 2025, pour un type qui a passé sa vie à écouter de la musique, ce geste semble anecdotique. L'authenticité revendiquée sonne presque fabriquée. C'est peut-être ça, le coeur du problème. Cet album est un classique intellectuel. Un disque qu'on admire plus qu'on ne l'aime. Un disque qu'on "doit" avoir, qu'on "doit" comprendre. Mais la musique, ça ne devrait pas être un devoir. Ça doit prendre aux tripes, faire taper du pied, donner envie de baiser ou de tout casser. Et là, rien. Le néant. L'encéphalogramme plat. J'ai l'impression d'avoir commis un sacrilège. De cracher sur une icône. Mais ce blog, c'est mon ressenti, pas une redite des encyclopédies. Et mon ressenti, c'est une profonde déception. C'est un album que je respecte, mais que je n'écouterai probablement plus jamais par plaisir. Il retournera sur son étagère, comme une belle pièce de musée, intéressante à regarder, mais froide au toucher. Note : 1/5 Et je suis généreux, c'est pour l'importance historique.
The music is terrible, but I’m also suspicious of anyone who writes a song sympathetic to white southerners during the American Civil War. It’s like writing a song about the bravery of the Wehrmacht; there’s only one type of person happy to associate themselves with that side of the conflict. The defence on Wikipedia is also laughable, essentially amounts to “but he’s Canadian” - as if there couldn’t possibly be a racist Canadian.
Well, I got through the entire album, I can’t say much more than that. It’s fine, classic/southern(?) rock I suppose, but I wouldn’t be going back to it.
1.5 rounded down incredibly funny to me that my highlights from this album ended up being the first and last tracks. i truly do not gaf highlights: across the great divide, king harvest (has surely come) (apr 7 2026)
Imagine having the nutsack to call you band ... THE Band.
This feels like something Hank Hill would listen to, and I got to say, that's really not for me.
1. divide - 1 2. rag - 1 3. night - 1 4. auuake - 1 5. creek - 1 6. pinez - 1 7. jemima - 0 8. chair - 1 9. cleveland - 1 10. jauu - 1.5 11. zervant - 1 12. king - 1
Tracks one and two are nothing special. This album feels like it’s gonna be a miss for me. Two more in - this barely qualifies as listenable. Who is this for? Jemima surrender - worst track so far. Jesus. Penultimate track - if i never listen to the band again, it will be too soon I don’t hate king harvest lyrically Okay real talk. Vocals and organ are insufferable on this album.
It’s hard to express how much I hate this. I try to find something to appreciate in everything, no matter how much I don’t care for it, but this is different. Hate is a strong word but here it’s not strong enough. I guess at least now I have new (very low) bar for the worst thing I’ve ever listened to. That’s sort of positive in a way, maybe.
Ok boomer. More white guys from the late 60s. This list is overly bloated with this era. Not gonna listen this time.
Liked Song Up On Cripple Creek
OK, it's fine, but it's ollddddd, I don't think I *actively* want to listen to this album (it doesn't excite me) but hearing it in the background was fine.
Nie gehört und bin erstaunt, dass sie so hoch eingestuft wird im Ramkpvon Rolling Stone. Ich höre etwas Supertramp heraus aber auch ganz anderes, aber es packt mich nicht.
Blah.
Entirely forgettable. This can’t be their big hit, can it?
60’s
Not my thing. Especially the nod to past.
I don't have anything good to say. This actively made me angry. It's poorly recorded, meaningless, unimaginitive, poorly sung. I skipped my way through the album. I hate country/blues/rock with a passion.
Yeah no, not my style.
Woof. This is either not my music entirely or I wasn't in the mood. I don't mind Up On Cripple Creek, but I wouldn't say I love it. It's fine. But the rest of this did nothing for me.
Meh.
There were a couple of songs that were recognizable. Not really that good.of songs though. They didn't deserve a second album on the list. I will round down.
Why do they sound so bad? Ugh, I can't stand it. This band has the most basic name and the most obnoxious sound.
I have heard of the song Up on Cripple Creek but am not familiar with any of the other songs. Across the Great Divide sounded like a theme song to a 70's TV show. I stopped at Jemima Surrender.
Muy huevón
Too country for me
Physically painful to listen to
Nett, nicht mein Stil.
Definitely evocative, with a clear point of view. None of the songs really stick out, but I can see myself hearing this on the radio while on a long drive through the country and thinking "huh, I know this from a long time ago. However, I couldn't get over the confederacy imagery. Sorry.
Snooze fest.
I wanted this to end so much. Yes I can see the influences but future bands have done it so much better
crap
from the cover art i really thought this album would resonate with me. however, after the initial listen it really was not my vibe. my favorite songs on the album were “up on cripple creek” and “king harvest”. Both songs were the classic rock type vibes i grew up on. So for that reason i didn’t mind listening to the rest because the really good ones made it worth it. lastly, i would love to know what provoked the listener to choose this album for such an esteemed list. No hate everyone interprets a song differently i am just genuinely curious.
Hoary old rockers. Sounds very of its time and I don't really see the appeal.
Influential, well known songs. Raw, not great. How is this the same band that rocks in The Last Waltz? Ah well.
this was interesting! just not really for me
Just another good ol' boys album. Away with you!
Complete wet flannel of a band, every song sounded like an 80s sitcom theme. The most middle of the road as it is possible to be. More like 'The Bland by The Bland', ey? They completely deserve a pun as terrible as that.
On paper this is something I should enjoy. I didn't - lame, meandering, and aimless. The best track was where they turned themselves down mid-chorus. It isn't unlistenable, but I don't want to hear it again. I've given 2 to better records than this.
Nicht schlecht
Sounds okay but dang that’s some TWANG and I mean “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” should be thrown in the trash with any other American media that paints the confederacy as anything but domestic terrorists. Yuck
Just as dreadful as Music From Big Pink
👎
Since this list has such an obsession with this exact same style of underwhelming album, I'm just going to start copying and pasting the same review because they're all so interchangeable, the reviews should reflect that. Another bland "classic/alt/psychedelic rock with a touch of country" albums to throw on the pile.
I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS
I don't give a shit about songs illustrating the suffering of civil-war era white southerners...smh.
not for me
did not finish, not at all my cup of tea.
Why did they bother coming up with song titles they all sound the same anyways
Aburrido
Southern Rock. If thats your thing, go right ahead. Up On Cripple Creek is a cool tune.
This is the most boring music/album I’ve ever listened to…
Cringe. Had to skip songs because my aversion was so overpowering.
Welp. This is it. My first 1-star rating. This album is just as interesting as it's name. Boring and not my style at all.
Peak dad music, this one
The band sucks. Did not like anything they did, at all. Stopped halfway through, couldn't do it anymore.
I hate this shit. Absolutely hate it. Every time I think it might get better, it gets worse. I loathe it with every fiber of my being. If there is a hell, certainly it is The Band. But at least now I can say I gave it a fair chance.
Meh
Currently 4 songs in. I hate it. Currently 8 songs in. Make it stop, this album is the best way to slow down time because it feels like an eternity. Yup. Hated it.
Not digging the bland, Beatles-country-bluegrass-esque fusion here. Nothing memorable on this one.