Reviews (page 4 of 12)
I've excepted it too be one of the blandest bands of its era. Even the name of the band is too boring. But they can really rock! Especially when they take country influences and add some driving rock to it. A bit inconsistent and a few fillers, so only 4, but will surely return to them
good album, some of the songs sounded countryish which im not normally into however overall i enjoyed this album
Really enjoyed this will
How a house band in a magical lakeside bar, with long haired Billy goats grazing in the fields, and the purest of dandy wines, or Miller High Life, would sound. LOOK OUT CLEVELAND and KING HARVEST are underrated gems imho.
Overall a good album. A lot of songs that I recognized and felt nostalgic because my dad liked them.
The progenitor of Americana
Would have this album. Easy listen. Recognized some songs.
Listening to this 57 years after its release, it does have a tweeness to it. But behind that there are some really solid songs and the sound of the album is full and honest. An enjoyable listen overall.
Just good, honest, Americana.
King harvest and Old Dixie!!
3,8 - Von vorne bis hinten absolut kompetentes Album. Es fehlen nur leicht die Highlights. Highlights: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Unfaithful Servant Highlights:
Bouncy enjoyment
Very enjoyable album with some iconic songs. I didn’t love it all the way through and their voices were grating on some of the songs but overall it was good!
This album feels old. It doesn't sound old. In fact, it's held up better than a lot of 60s albums that were cutting edge at the time. I suspect it feels old because it felt old at the time too. Between the rustic tales of farms, boats, and bourbon and the blend of country and roots rock, it feels like music from another time. But it's also proven to be timeless, a tour through classic Americana styles. It's a very comfy album. The songs are fleshed out with subtle highlights like fiddle or piano that really make them pop. I like that the vocals are traded off between members. The album does lack true highlights; "Up on Cripple Creek," the closer, and "Dixie" (even if I can't bring myself to care about a southerner during the Civil War) are the closest to great songs. It also boasts no bad songs though, which is enough to make this a comforting album to come back to.
This is a fine album. No bangers, but nothing unlistenable. If it was playing at a pub I would probably even mention that the music's pretty good. It's a vibe, and not a bad one. I'm unlikely to listen to it a lot more though, but I wouldn't be mad if it came up in a "rock easy-listening" playlist I put on when I have visit over.
Cozy rock
One of the best by one of the best.
Very good. Favourite song: Up On Cripple Creek
Pack the bags, cigarettes and hard liquor, it’s time for a good old fashioned road trip across the midwest. Fave tracks: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Jawbone & The Unfaithful Servant
Pretty good listen, I like the vibe, a few saves, love the instrumental, nice voices, the one thing I didn’t like is in The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down the voice reminds me too much of Cleveland Brown from Family Guy but other than that it is probably my second favorite on the album
I have a soft spot for this kind of music. Its easy listening and often beautiful.
Completely passed me by until now. Shuddered at the description of a ‘concept album’ but it sounded far more recent than 1969. Enjoyed. Will I add it to repeat listening? Yes!
Wow! First time hearing The Band. Something I would listen to again. Beautiful arrangements, melodies and stringy guitar sounds. Sounds nostalgic.
My rating 3.5
Classic Band, Classic alblum. Rounded up to a 4.0
Great upbeat album
It's cool, but not really my thing
Nice!
Across the Divide 3.6 Rag Mama Rag 3.2 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 4 When You Awake 3.6 Up on Cripple Creek 4.1 Whispering Pines 3.5 Jemima Surrender 3.7 Rockin' Chair 3.4 Look Out Cleveland 3.5 Jawbone 3.1 The Unfaithful Servant 3.2 King Harvest (Has Surely Come) 3.6 Score: 3.541666667
My favorite album from them. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down makes me want to cry every time I hear it
ok once again i’ve never heard of these. ok wait i’m quite enjoying it so far.. very catchy first two songs. these are quite fun. there’s been no songs i’ve disliked so far, all have been distinctive to me which is unusual for a first listen. i think i like this one and will listen more fr. up on cripple creek is a banger what the hell. i can’t get it out of my head 😭😭😭
good, reminded me of hank williams, waylon jennings etc
What a great album. The album keeps a consistent feel across the whole thing.
I really enjoyed it. Only heard a few of their bigger hits. Lots of train songs so that’s a plus.
Another one l own but don't listen to a bunch. Actually a really good album.
wasn’t paying much attention because I was listening while working, but it was good!
A solid 4/5 for this one.
The Band rocks
à reécouter mais j'aime trop ce groupe #poulet
seminal american album. influential and a true product of its time.
I fell behind but this one was cool! I’m a little suspicious of some of the lyrics since it’s so old though…
classic
Great songs, good groove. Much better production than expected. Wouldn't mind listening to again.
Overall Rating - 3.67/5 (7.33/10). Well done music. Country-ish, folk-ish, rock-ish.
Good but Jawbone is next level good.
Nice, kinda oldschool
A classic.
I don't want to rate this three stars, but it had so much high and low for me. I'm going to give it 4 just to spite the 2-3 stars I've given. This really isn't bad. It's enjoyable. Not enjoyable enough that I wouldn't just reach for CCR or something when I'm in the mood for this, but it made for a good enough time working.
You had me at cripple.
I feel like if you made a song called “Up On Crippled Creek” these days, the internet would lose its shit. Solid listen, but a bit too country folksy for me at times. 3.5⭐️
4.5
Outstanding stuff honestly, been meaning to get into more of their stuff
I always enjoyed music by the Band, and this album has a few of their best songs. Apparently this album is considered their best. As mentioned before, I’m always impressed by foreign artists who have a good knowledge of US history and write sings about it - in this case Robbie Robertson. Also, few (if any) bands are the subject of a Martin Scorcese film.
I was familiar with Dixie and Cripple Creek, but enjoyed finally hearing the whole album. I can see how they influenced a wide range of artists and helped shape a sound, but not quite enough to get that 5th star.
Pretty good blues and rock n roll. I'm a little biased towards this band, but they have some genuinely classic tunes. I wouldn't call it anything revolutionary, but it's a generally enjoyable listen. Love how the drums have some expression to them instead of being produced to hell and lifeless.
Great vibe, love the production from this era. Cripple creek is great, and overall I really enjoyed this album but I think it needs more listens to really settle in to it. I hope theirs more the band albums coming.
We're close enough to American Thanksgiving for it to still be "The Band" season so my body was perfectly set up to take in this album. Some good looking out the window of a moving car music.
Didn't know about them, but they go hard! Nice 70s rock
The Band is yet another band where I am incredibly familiar with their more well known songs, but not terribly familiar with their back catalogue. This is clearly because I've watched the Last Waltz several times, but never stopped to listen to any of their studio albums. This album does have several of the well known Band tracks like Rag Mama Rag, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up on Cripple Creek, and King Harvest (Has Surely Come) and honestly, those songs alone are going to drive a pretty high rating for me.
From my understanding without looking anything up, The Band was originally Bob Dylan's backing band and they'd record and - maybe tour as well?? - with him. BUT after Dylan's motorcycle accident I suppose they got more free time to do other stuff. Well stuff that isn't speculation, is that this album is a nice combination of folk and country and rock, it gives me strong CCR vibes. "Up On Cripple Creek" verse melody sounds like the verse melody from a song from their previous album, "The Weight." Speaking of "The Weight" the first song on THIS album says something about a woman named Molly which "The Weight" mentions as well, I wonder if its inspired or just a name the songwriter really likes. This is a good album in a after having recently gone through mostly mediocre albums. Highlight Song/s: Rag Mama Rag, When You Awake, Up On Cripple Creek and Jawbone
I remember the first time I heard this I didn't think anything of it. Not sure what I was thinking, because The Band's self titled is great! Love the variety of tones on display. Upbeat songs, downtrodden songs. Interesting vocals as well! *Heard before
This is in the 4.5 category for me. Very close to 5 stars.
I really like this album, but with one exception. It’s hard to get behind any song that glorifies the antebellum era. Even though “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,“ has a very “poor man fighting a rich man’s war” tone about it, the references to Robert E Lee being one of the “very best,“ and his brother, taking a “rebel stand,“ are part of a broader misrepresentation of what the Civil War was about that is still quite common to this day. Take those lyrics away, or remove the track entirely, and this is definitely an all-time great album.
More complex in all facets than it first appears. I was going to say that, like Dr. Hook, they are best when they don’t take themselves or life seriously; however, on second listen, there is a lot of thought that went into creating and performing these songs. Worth studying.
If this album were to be removed from services would The Band by The Ban be on a list of The Banned?? Regardless, This Band of The Band put out a really good record called The Band. 4/5
Across the Great Divide - 4/5 Rag Mama Rag - 5/5 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - 5/5 When You Awake - 3/5 Up on Cripple Creek - 4/5 Whispering Pines - 4/5 Jemima Surrender - 4/5 Rockin' Chair - 4/5 Look Out Cleveland - 3/5 Jawbone - 4/5 The Unfaithful Servant - 3/5 King Harvest (Has Surely Come) - 4/5 Average score: 3.9/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a huge step up from their debut album in my opinion
2 all-time classics. The rest is not too shabby either.
Great blend of classic genres, and their songs are full of lyrical content.
Legendary band, great songs. King Harvest was really enjoyable and a standout song out of the ones I didn't recognize.
Before this album, I only knew the Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” I was excited to listen to this iconic rock band, and I feel my expectations of their music were met and exceeded. Their big song is reflective of their usual folk rock sound, but “Up On Cripple Creek” was funky, I swear it. A lot of artists dabble in folk rock, but I feel like the Band has a unique sound. Other folk rock musicians never quite had the Band’s country aspect. Perhaps Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen are the most similar to the Band? 3.5, rounding up to 4 for the chill listen.
A beleza na simplicidade. Acho difícil escrever sobre o disco homônimo da BANDA. É um country-rock até que simplório e previsível, mas não há nada de errado em deixar a roda como está, sem necessidade de uma reinvenção. Arroz e feijão bem feitos e bem executados sempre serão palatáveis. As harmonias são muito gostosas de se ouvir. É incrível o poder de ter tantos vocalistas em um grupo só. Uma pitadinha de honky tonk só pra dar uma texturizada nas canções. Gruda no cabeçote e te leva por aí, vamos comer mato, sei lá. Me lembra Creedence, até são da mesma época, mas A Banda é às vezes mais cartunesca, se é que me entende. De vez em quando um dos vocalistas me lembra algum personagem de algo como Vila Sésamo. Nada a ver? Coisa da minha cabeça, talvez. De todo modo, um disco legal, consigo ver o valor aqui. Não mudou minha vida e provavelmente não pensarei mais nesse álbum, mas foi uma escuta legal e agradável. A segunda metade me satisfaz bem mais que a primeira, só pra deixar registrado aqui. 4/5
Quite enjoyed this one. Easy to listen to and a good mix of instruments.
Really excellent record. I had only heard “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Weight” and “Atlantic City” before this. This is just great, laid back folk rock with some real teeth later in the album, “King Harvest” is the highlight for me for sure. Fantastic organ, bass playing, throughout.
Knew some of the songs but there were some nice surprises.
Americana's early roots, lot more like soft rock. Eagles ish
The review.
I don't know if I quite "get" The Band, but all in all these guys are helluva great group of musicians, and I can see why a concert film like The Last Waltz is considered one of the all time greats. I bet The Band was a site to see live. The Brown Album as a whole was solid. Couple of hits while the deeper cuts hold their own with a hint of silliness.
An album recorded in Southern California by a group of Canadians that encapsulates the Deep South and Americana folk rock in a way that feels authentic
Pretty good. Bass goes bananas.
Like it
awesome fucking badass band name. the first song reminded me of ‘You’ve got a friend in me’
Soulful, roots, bluesy folk rock. Simple, straightforward tunes where the feeling is more important than the technical prowess. Not that the band cant play, the are obviously perfectly tight. Love the variety of vocals. Its catchy, warm, emotional and real. Favourite track - Jemima Surrendor, Up on Cripple Creek and King Harvest. 8.5/10
Really enjoyed it. Good songs.
Very warm listening, quite enjoyable to hear the notes of early Americana music. Wouldn't say there's necessarily any standout tracks or moments, aside from a strong opener 'Across the Great Divide'.
I like the sort of old weird America collective vibe and the way it throws back and forward: spooky country blues, plangent folkiness, electric rock. The big songs are big and the small ones are small. More of a parallel cosmos than hook-laden pleasure.
Struggling for words to describe The Band’s sound—rootsy and rocking, spare but also emotionally resonant is the best I can come up with. “Cripple Creek” may actually be my least favorite because I’ve heard it too many times; there are so many gems other than that. “The Unfaithful Servant,” for example.
Definitely important but not really what o felt like listening to.
Das Album hat Potential und ist gut zu hören. Würde ich kaufen
The original psychedelic country/folk. Such a cool sound they achieved through the whole album. A great listen throughout with some peaks on the top songs. I enjoy the vocals in their sort of offbeat way, and theirs varied instrumental sounds such as the organ and what I think is a guitar that sounds like a frog
Excellent album. A real mix of country, folk, Dixie jam and a little bit funky in places. The Band must have been great to see live as they just come across as a natural jamming group. There are a couple of dud tracks but some great ones too.
did't even listen and it's banger.
Disco de feel good folksy pero no hippie (palabras de Pablo). Muy bueno de acompañamiento o haciendo tareas de casa o así, o de viaje.
A classic.
love it
Fun album! May need to listen to again.
A Band ironically? named The Band. So happy to hear this one!! Instrumentation, vocals, and melodies. superb. Blues and Rock with harmonies. Listened before? Not the entire album, but I am familiar with several tracks Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up On Cripple Creek, King Harvest ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really Liked it. Saved some tracks
Funky Americana honky-tonk vibes. A few great tracks. Is it just me, or does Levon Helm's voice sound kind of like Cleveland Brown? Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Across The Great Divide, Rag Mama Rag, Up On Cripple Creek, Jemima Surrender, Look Out Cleveland ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Really liked it. Saved a bunch of tracks.
Opened strong, finished kinda weak.
Loved it -- way different sound than I expected having only heard "The Weight" from them previously. I really liked "Up on Cripple Creek"
4.4
I have very similar feelings about this album as I did the last, in fact nearly identical. I felt like the music was a bit slow for me and little too southern sounding. But the genuine talent in the band is insane. Like the guitar playing and song writing is spectacular. The only real criticism is that it’s alittle slow and southern for me and I didn’t love every song. But it’s a very endearing album with excellent craftsmanship. I just wish they had wrote a rock song or two. Still a seriously good album.
Pretty good album with a few absolute classics. Thought I would like it more though. A bunch of songs that are fine and not really memorable. Still 4 stars
Not much to say here, just a great album by a great band. Something about this music feels perfect for this fall time of year too. Want to go 4.5 but I’ll round down to save the 5 for when we get Big Pink
The Band is Rock n’ Roll Americana. A lot to enjoy here besides Cripple Creek and Old Dixie. Jawbone and the closer King Harvest are other standouts. 8/10
I like the vibe a lot. Reminds me of my cookie, Billy Joel, a lot, and mixed with some The Rolling Stones. Some songs are a bit too country for me, but overall an enjoyable experience. 4/5🎉
It's very good, but I have listened to it too much. I wish the Band could have found a way to stay together and stay creative. I'm sad about how it ended up. 4.49 stars.
Good album. Couple of their hits. Others are all pretty good and interesting. There's not much I feel I can really say here, but I will recognize that this is one of those very important bands that is largely slept on. All members are excellent musicians.
Up on cripple creek
Thought I’d be more taken by this than I was. Still very good though
Took me a few listens to really settle on a score here. On first listen I thought this album was phenomenal or even a masterpiece but the cracks were already showing when I wasn't album to particularly identify what i liked about the album or what tracks stood out besides a handful. This problem has only persisted, undoubtled immaculately produced, but back loaded as fuck. Jaw bone and King Harvest are peak and I will return to them. The unfaithful servant and the night they drove are good too, but I can't say much about the rest beyond the above. A good album that doesn't withstand multiple listens. 7/10
3,5-4/5 Didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I had this vision of extreme country music. Yet it has a lot of rock and folk influences and changes its pace a lot. From upbeat songs to ballads. Favorites: ‘Across The Great Divide’, ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ and ‘Whispering Pines’
60s folk rock with a big ol' scoop of americana and country, makes me want to drink a beer on the porch.
8/10 This record is kind of hard to pigeonhole. There are elements of country, rock, folk, even soul and funk that bounce in and out of the sound, but it all still has a fairly consistent ‘The Band’ sound about it. There is an edge of rawness to the playing and production that gives it a more folksy, earthy feel to it, but when they want to, they can tighten things up and knock out some really excellent, connected hooks that are super engaging. I really enjoyed a lot of the songs, and even the ones that I didn’t connect with as much had elements that I really dug. There were really shining moments of performance from across the group, with some quality vocal harmonies and some really nice piano and guitar playing in particular. As an album, it certainly conveys a very specific vibe, and everything, despite the different genres they touch on, has a pretty consistent tone, which helps with bringing things together as a coherent whole. There are moments I absolutely love and some that I find less engaging, but as a whole, it’s a high quality record that has a few absolute bangers and served as inspiration for a lot of bands that would follow. Across The Great Divide - I love the tone of this. It’s folksy rock, but there’s a good deal of soul to it too. There are some nice vocal harmonies and the variety of different elements from the different instruments provides depth to the composition. The organ line that sits in the background is great, for example. It’s just really engaging and has great drive to it. Rag Mama Rag - It’s a proper country start, with a great swagger. That piano is fantastic and the overall energy is infectious. Hard not to move to this one. It’s got a bit of a raw edge which really works for it too. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The pace drops and the vocal delivery is very evocative in this one. It’s not a perfect delivery, but that kind of works in its favour to make it feel more raw. The dynamic swell into the chorus with the backing vocals and the aggressively struck piano chords and drums is top work. When You Awake - This feels a bit less well organised, but there’s some quality in there. I suspect the vocal delivery isn’t for everyone, but I really like that edge of strain and just hanging it together that it suggests. It’s a bit more of a wandering track that doesn’t ever really find its centre, but it’s still not bad. Up On Cripple Creek - Love this song. The limping cadence of the rhythm is just so good and it’s really funky, with all of the instruments just bringing so much feel. Piano, guitar and rums in particular, but everything’s so good. It’s got a banger of a chorus too. Whispering Pines - There’s a bit of a Beach Boys feel to this. Some of the chord choices are really beautiful and the general ambience is lovely. The vocals on a prettier song like this do perhaps feel a bit more stretched, but it’s a fairly minor quibble. Jemima Surrender - More of a rocky number now. Some great piano playing that just adds quality flavour to the track. There are some great bits of synchronicity between the instruments when they join together for a few key hits and chord changes. The main elements aren’t vastly memorable, but there are a load of bits that are super satisfying. Rockin' Chair - This is a bit of a mixed bag. Some elemets of it a really good, but it does kind of drift in places too. It feels a bit like a jumble of ideas that don’t always flow that smoothly together. The chorus is great though. Look Out Cleveland - The tempo kicks up again and we’re into a rocking number. I like the difference in feel between the verses and choruses and the way the chorus slowly drops before rising up quickly. It’s a great musical effect. Jawbone - They play with tempo a lot here, which is pretty cool. The verse is a little disjointed, but I absolutely love the chorus of this song. Everything comes together so well, and then when they break into the solo it’s equally excellent. The Unfaithful Servant - This is a little on the plodding side. There are some nice bits, but overall, it’s not that engaging to me and lacks a bit of the variety or catchy nature of the better songs on the album. King Harvest (Has Surely Come) - Back for another really funky little number. Some quality playing on this. The vibe is great, but it never really lands on a memorable hook, which is a bit of a shame. But I’ll still enjoy it for the vibe. The solo section is top quality and a great way to round off the album.
Great songs!
Nice solid band. By the Band.
Random thoughts: * I'm afraid to admit I've never listened to this album nor watched the movie The Last Waltz either. This is part of why I'm doing 1001 to fill in some of those glaring gaps in my music fandom. * I kinda knew what I was getting into here so I wasn't surprised as I'm familiar with Dixie and Cripple Creek. * This is solid Americana (even though most of the band is Canadian). * I should revere this record but I'm guessing it is a case of you had to be there to revere it the way I revere modern day folk rock and Americana acts and albums. * I will definitely listen again but I find this just solid and not extraordinary. However, considering the historical influence, this is a must listen for all music fans.
My favorite band album is “the best of the band”. that being said, I am only super familiar with the hits. It’s amazing how such a potent civil war song can be written a century after the war itself…..
I've been a fan of The Band for a while and I never realized how groovy the basslines are. As a bass player myself, I am ashamed and simultaneously excited to learn these songs.
Didn't listen to the Band growing up. Great vibe and sound. Strong musicianship. I guess i like folk rock.
Joyful playing with a nice, heavy bass. Great lyrics, love all the voices overlapping. Across the Great Divide is ethereal and I love her. Rockin’ Chair is bittersweet, slightly teary, but gorgeous. Look Out Cleveland has a nice piano intro and that bass and guitar mix really well. 4/5⭐️
non mi è dispiaciuto, continuo sulla mia linea dei 4 non pieni
So this is rock? folk? country? Southern white guy soul? It's pretty good, whatever you call it. Cripple Creek and Dixie are the best. The rest range from ok to good. It's about a 3.5.
This was a pleasant surprise, as I had listened to Music from Big Pink before and was only familiar with Up on Cripple Creek from this album, leading me to believe it would be a twangy slog. Instead, I found excellent storytelling and nice, varied sounds.
Good ol' boy music
I don't know how to rate this. I was never a fan of The Band because I considered them "country" and country music was the music of my parents which = not cool. However, I've gained an appreciation for Americana music over the years, and while I'll never be a complete fan of The Band, I enjoyed listening to this album.
Oh hell yeah! What an album! Now we can forget the drab, formulaic rock of the 60s behind, and really tell some human stories. It's Paul Kelly 2 decades in advance. It's soul music for white people. It tells a story and makes you feel good. What's not to love? One star deducted for cringe lewd metaphors in the song a about pursuing the girl. Other than that, great album. Note: where the hell did I hear drive old Dixie down before? That's a voice haunting me from the ancient past
Love The Band, perfect album to describe their overall sound.
🏠
(The) Weight, there's more! ✅✅✅ The Day They Drove Old Dixie Down ✅✅✅ When You Awake ✅✅ Look Out Cleveland ✅✅ Jawbone ✅✅ King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
good god does The Band fucking rule. i do think 'music from big pink' is their only true 5 star album but how can you not love this.
Came out just over a year after Music From Big Pink and even surpasses it. A band who started at the peak of their powers.
Enjoyed this one! Didn't realise they wrote the night they blew old Dixie down originally so that was a nice surprise. Easy listen, great vocals and harmonies, interesting chord progressions.
Americana rocks man. It might be my favorite genre. This is guys being dudes music to the core. I love it so much.
Album ciekawszy niż nazwa zespołu. Fajny, amerykański i do pochillowania
(85/100)
Its very soft,yet enthralling.It does a very good job at building up the momentum in their songs and its a very smooth and calming listens.Extremely catchy too 7.7
This is something I might actually listen to again.
Underrated album
This was great. Lots of bluesy, folksy playing with lots of heart and soul. The tunes i knew were great and the tunes in didnt know had impact immediately.
Amazing storytelling, instrumentation and fun. Feels like you’re hearing old backwoods tales, set to memorable beats, guitars that set tone and move the song forward, piano that turns the click back, and surprisingly funky bass lines. I can see why so many people fell in love with The Band, if this was their debut.
7 Nice record?? Could listen again
Up on cripple creek and Dixie are classics, suck it Kris
For a group of Canadians and New Yorkers, The Band nailed Southern Americana in a way that still feels authentic. The whole album sounds earthy and lived-in, mixing folk, country, and rock into something that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in tradition. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is the emotional centerpiece, a haunting take on loss and history that remains one of their defining songs. “Up on Cripple Creek” shows the other side of their charm, playful and funky with Levon Helm’s voice carrying it perfectly. Then there is “King Harvest (Has Surely Come),” a gritty closer that seals the album with honesty and grit. Together, these tracks highlight The Band’s unique ability to blend storytelling with musicianship, making them sound like they had lived every story they sang even if they hadn’t. It is a record that proves sincerity and heart matter more than where you are from. Favorite song: Up On Cripple Creek
I love The Band and all of their albums are excellent to me for the mixture of musicianship, singing and lyrics. Easy 4 out of 5 with all the tracks being standouts.
Don’t know why I had only listened to this album a couple of times over all these years. It’s a really good album.
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is a strong contender for best cover ever. Up On Cripple Creek, overrated. Whispering Pines, underrated. I like this but Music from Big Pink is better.
Dope
I found this album very easy to listen to. This type of music just makes you want to smile. I thought overall this album did a good job of having a cohesive album but still ensuring that each song had its own personality. Personally when listening, I didn’t get bored, but also didn’t get lost. Would definitely recommend.
Very enjoyable. I knew a few songs from them beforehand that aren't on the album such as Dont Do It which is a tune. I enjoyed when a lyric involved the word 'you' and particularly enjoyed Jawbone. I reckon this album would get better and better with each listen and each track would take turns being a favourite. In addition, the lad second from the right looks exactly like a lad I used to work with, and second from the left has Christopher Waltz vibes. Neither of those two look a like points are relevant to note in regards to the rating of the album, but are worth noting none the less.
ok
4/5
"Rag Mama Rag" features a lot on my playlists but I've never really dived into the tracks on the rest of the album. It's not country, it's not rock, but every song tells a story and you feel they would be well received by any crowd in the last 100 or so years. They are timeless. I get Eagles vibes but this is much darker and funkier. Dare I say more real to the everyman's experience. The lyrics are first person driven and are on point. The instrumentation is solely on delivering the story. No big solo's or "look at me" moments. They have a story to tell and the music had to help that, not take away from it. This sounds older, deeper and communal. I will buy this.
Better than expected, like the 'country' sound Edit: had to come back and bump it up to a 4
Some excellent songs on here - I love Across the Great Divide. But prefer Songs from the Big Pink.
Loved it, listened while driving back from France
Enjoyed this a lot, love how they shuffle instruments and vocals so often. Ended up watching The Last Waltz after listening to this
Class southern rock, soothes the soul
For The Band, this is a great sophomore effort. It has more boogie and soul than Big Pink. I will return for Up on Cripple Creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
A classic for a reason. A bit held back by sub par production and a couple meh performances, the live version of "Old Dixie" is much better than on the album Favorite songs: Rocking Chair Jawbone King Harvest
Very cozy music with good vibes. Not much else to say, nothing really stood out as being better than the rest but nothing disappointed either, just a solid album.
Was mellow
I think it's been said elsewhere, but this group were the foundation for so many country rock bands to follow (Eagles, Doobie's etcl. The musicality & musicianship of each them is great to hear and blends into a fabulous cohesive unit. Really like it.
the first record that I heard from "the band" where a bunch of songs hit. worth a listen.
It must have been rough for The Band that they continued together for almost another decade and never even came close to this again.
Relaxing, simple, oldie goldie and beautiful!
Across The Great Divide // The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down // Whispering Pines // Jawbone // The Unfaithful Servant // King Harvest 4.5/5
60s rock, gotta love it
Just a little shy of 5/5, Very good album though
I would blare this at an outdoor barbeque with lots of beer flowing. Love the energy. Great album for a summer get together~
I think I like the band. Cripple creek is an obvious stand out and I really loved the time signature change ups in jawbone. Everything else was pleasant and I have no complaints, it’s just not something I’m going to seek out on purpose unless I’m in a really specific mood.
Great album, but, like Drake, the band hits the hardest for me when I'm in a specific mood. This is a great album, though. Great jams. Jawbone is actually one of my favorite songs on this album, even though it is the least popular. That makes me cool, right? Cripple Creek and Dixie Down are obvious classics, but this album isn't really packed with smashing singles that can stand on their own. I'm feeling a very strong 4
Very good! Kind of all-over mix of vibes, less cohesive than I typically like. Some early sick funk/bass riffs. About as expected.
muzyka ktora by leciala w losowym dive barze do ktorego zawitalby dean winchester. fajne
Seeing a band called "The Band" is like when you see the guy on World of Warcraft who got the name "Steve" or "Gandalf". Someone had to get it. Time to find out if they deserved it. "Across The Great Divide" is great so far. I love the horns, the keys, the guitar, and the vocals. "Up On Cripple Creek" slaps. "Rockin' Chair" is real nice. "King Harvest" has some sweet instrumentation on it. I don't even know what I'm hearing but I like it. This is all very "E Street Band". I can imagine Bruce and co. took a lot of inspiration from these guys. Disappointed they don't have an incredible track called 'The Song'. This was a great album. 8/10
really enjoyed this
Along with CCR, this is the birth of Americana music - an amalgam of folk, country, and rock performed by world-class, if perpetually stoned, musicians. Some of it drags (in particular the ballads), but overall its an enjoyable listen that fits certain moods like a glove.
Very very very good. Two all time bangers in Up on Cripple Creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down....and a bunch of songs I never knew and really like (Jawbone, King Harvest).
Another all time great Canadian band. This is likely my favourite offering from them. King Harvest is my favourite track. I have to admit, this album has become a little stale to me due to repeated exposure.
really enjoyed the blend of voices!
The artists that make up The Band are complete musicians. And that high level comes through in spades on this album. I mean, how many acts can you name that have 3 different lead singers? “Up On Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” are two stand outs. But really there is melodic beauty in every song on the album.
Would this be dad rock? I dunno, but my dad likes it. And for good reason, cuz this is pretty darned good rock.
I really like the keyboard/organ parts, which I think I said about the last one, they just expand the songs a lot I feel like, the clavinet in one of them really makes it stand out from other boring guitar based blues stuff. There are quite a lot of standard blues/country rock stuff, like the Jemima Surrender one, which I think just falls quite flat overall, the brass is cool though. I think the more folk and non blues ones are the best. Favourite songs: across the great divide, when you awake, up on cripple creek, whispering pines, rockin' chair, look out Cleveland, The Unfaithful Servant. Overall around 7/10
Great album!
Liked this
Love em now that’s what I call music
Really good, will listen many times again
great
This album is great. I only knew one or two songs. I really enjoyed this.
Really solid album and fun to listen to. It's not really my style, but it held my attention. I only really know the Band from The Last Waltz, so it was cool to listen to a full album. Probably more of a 3.5 for me, but bumping.
This one’s always felt like slipping into a battered armchair in a wooden cabin, warm light spilling through the window, and someone handing you a drink before launching into a story. It’s earthy, rich, and timeless, and I find myself really sinking into the details each time. The album feels like it’s lived a full life before I even pressed play. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” still hits like a freight train — I don’t even need to be American to feel that loss. “Up on Cripple Creek” has that swampy, playful groove that I can’t help but hum later, and “Whispering Pines” just quietly guts me. It’s understated in all the right ways. I think what keeps me coming back is how much care is packed into the arrangements. Everything feels like it’s been placed there with intent, but it never feels overcooked. The voices blend like old friends passing the mic around a fire, and the whole thing carries this worn-in honesty that’s hard to fake. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have t
A fun album, and I found myself liking/saving the least-played songs (per Spotify tracking). "Jawbone" and "Jemima Surrender" were personal standouts
Cover 5.5 Great album. Fun songs. Generally not my era but really like this album.
So good. All ridiculously good musicians and singers. Absolute classic
Alabama vibes
Good
Good to listen to walking on a sunny day
Funky feel good album, shocked that they are from Canada. Also learned they got their big start as a tour band for Bob Dylan before going out on their own. Cold beer and a body of water should accompany this music. Up On Cripple Creek was a favorite.
know it like it
Usually don't love this genre of music but for some reason The Band is different. To me, this album is American Beauty, but sang in tune (and this is coming from someone who really likes the Dead)
This album was fantastic. I’m a big fan of roots-rock, so I was predisposed to like this one but holy ravioli this is good. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is super catchy, “Jemima Surrender” is high energy and fun, “Rag Mama Rag” is really good. “Up On Cripple Creek” is super catchy and awesome. “Look Out Cleveland” as well, and “Across The Great Divide” is a great pop song, and the closer “King Harvest (Has Surely Come)” is also really good. I realize that this review has kinda turned into a song list, but it truly is that good. It’s got this bluesy, and almost jazzy sound at parts, with a rock and country backbone that makes this an amazing listen.
I remember I didn’t really enjoy the first The Band album we got a while back but this was better. The last song sounded like Should I Stay or Should I Go. Also I feel like a self titled album should be the first thing an artist puts out. Low 4
rips
Saved by interesting phrasing and musical tendencies, high 3
ENJOYABLE LISTEN. SOME CLASSIC TUNES.
This kind of country rock is not my genre of music at all, but...this album is good. Great musicianship and songwriting that all feels very genuine.
It’s good, got a little bored tho. Would listen to this album on a roadtrip maybe
It's more good old-head stuff.
Some really good songs on this album! Good country and bluesy band
Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩ (But it's probably low compared to other four stars) Will I be listening to this again: I wouldn't mind What do I like about it: It's nothing spectacular but getting to 4 stars means that I actually saved the albuminstead of only some songs heheeh What I dislike about it: Nothing Higlighted songs: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up On Cripple Creek, Whispering Pines, Look Out Cleveland
Iconic album from an underappreciated and legendary band. Some slower songs but bolstered by Rag Mama Rag, The Night They Drove..., Up on Cripple Creek, and King Harvest. If you haven't done so, please watch the Last Waltz. 8.75/10 (4.375/5)
Never gave it a chance before as an album but worth it
Some real good folk rock/country rock. Makes me want to go to a log cabin and become a conservative.
Did not know all the tracks on this early album, couple certified bangers. Great band and this album sneaks into a 4
It's funky, and probably warrants further listens - whether it'll get them, TBD!
Interesting music. Very familiar sounding. Either they were ahead of the game or copying the styles of the time. Definitely getting Beatles vibes but quite enjoyable.
Buenisimo
Some great songs, especially “The Night They Drove ol’ Dixie Down.”
It's fine. It's not Big Pink, which is great.
Still not particularly my thing, but I have to agree that it's flawless.
The Rating
4/5
This was Great! The Band got a nice vibe to them and it feels like something I haven't really heard before. It's one of my new favorites so far! 9/10
i love this shit so muchhhh
J'ai de la misère à m'y coller pour plus que 2-3 tounes à la fois, mais je suis définitivement un fan de ce genre de son et de vibe, Americanaaaaa!!
Solid band, solid album. They aren’t flashy and only play what the song calls for.
Solid folksy rock album by this great band called The Band. Lots of people praise it but I need to listen to it a bit more to embrace its quality. It's certainly there.
This is one of the best late 60s Country Rock albums I've ever heard. Lovely mix and sound throughout. Not gonna revisit it too often, but definitely deserves the love
As one half of long standing and iconic rock band Houmous & Chutney I really appreciate the simplicity of band names. 4.1
Good stuff
They have a better sense of their sound in this album than in the Big Pink, and it leads to a better album overall.
Honestly, I had a lot of fun with this album. Each song didn't feel tired, even when they were using motifs used a million times. That being said, with nothing overtly fresh, this ended up not getting a five from me.
The night they Drove ole Dixie Down is one of the most impactful songs as far as letting my mind wander. “Virgil quick come see , there goes Robert E Lee”. Imagine a war in your own freakin backyard. Besides Cripple creek the album is just ok…. But I can’t get past my love of Dixie.
This is one of those albums that seems familiar, like it was played a lot when I was really little. Really liked it.
SHUT UP. IT'S THE MOTHERFUCKING BAND. LISTEN TO THE BAND!!!
https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/JesseOverPessi/the-band/the-band/255750798
Great, easy listen
very original name. not so original music. still very good. 4/5
I listened to this on the way home from work on Friday 😊. It’s got a nice relaxed and care free vibe to it. Up on Cripple Creek is an awesome funky song! I think you might have played this album af Ulladulla once or twice dad? Or am I mistaking this for a different album. I loved it, it’s saved on my Spotify and I will listen to it again.
Classic sound. I've never appreciated The Band as much as I should, but such a fun album. I feel like this sound does not really exist anymore. very evocative of the era.
I found their first album boring and unfocused, but I'm blown away at how much better this followup is. It's a solid folk-rock album. The music is soft and relaxed, but still has a crisp and focused sound to it. The balance between stompers and ballads is just right. The elements of country and southern styles is great, even though I'm not a fan of country. Some of these songs you have to catch yourself feeling warm and nostalgic for some down-home southern life you never lived. Vocals and songwriting are varied and enjoyable. 4.5*
Really liked this americana revival folk album. Didn't find it dull at all.
Pretty good
This is the first time I've sought out music by The Band, but of course I'm familiar with the band (heh, redundant much?), namely Levon Helm. The only other band member name I recognize is Robbie Robertson, but I couldn't have told you a lick of what he was all about before the revelation of this evening that he was the principle songwriter in The Band. I've entirely avoided Bob Dylan to this point (maybe mostly on purpose, guilty as charged), so my only significant existing connection to The Band is Levon Helm's work with Neil Young, which I enjoy. This album has a really cozy feel, great songs and really convincing performances. It definitely makes sense as to why this is such a universally loved album. Whispering Pines stood out to me as a really good ballad that I hadn't heard before. I get Grateful Dead vibes from a lot of the music, a band I'm already much more familiar with. It was an enjoyable listen, and while I'll likely revisit as well as check out more from The Band, nothing earth shattering or life changing for me at the moment.
Rund og god
Very solid album. No need to skip songs. Just let it play.
Great choice for 60s American folk music. The Band (1968). I enjoyed a few songs more than the ones that got the most airplay. Many bands including Grateful Dead (1965) and Canned Heat (1967) jumped on the Folk style music after Bob Dylan (1961) came on the scene.
Låter gammal Americana av dette albumet :) (litt folksy også) Tørr og romslig lyd. Har hørt dette albumet flere ganger, men det griper meg ikke helt som andre albumer fra samme tidsperiode og sjangerstil. Trenger noen fler spins med lyrics :)
Cripple Creek. Such a catchy and satisfying lyric. Can only listen to so much twangyness tho.
Really make full use of the multi-instrumental prowess of every band member. I’ve always been curious about this group but never listened before. Pretty consistently groovy but didn’t remember more than a tune or two after one listen.
I’ve been listening to these hillbillies a lot lately and I think I am starting to understand why so many people, especially musicians, like them.
Lots of classics on here, nice honky tonk sounds to the tracks I didn't know.
7/10.
apparently this band that combined Americana, folk, rock, R&B, jazz and country influenced everyone from George Harrison to Elton John to Eric Clapton to the Who dropped this second album in 69. They started out as Bob Dylan's first electric band on tour and later formed a separate unit that has frequently been called one of the influential bands of all time. It's cool to hear the background and then hear the wide range of influences on this album. Definitely worth a listen.
Classic album. I listened to it with my 4 month old and even she was smiling through it.
Has a good feel to it, twangy and catchy. Good for roadtrips but makes me feel like an old guy with a mustache sitting on a porch waiting for death to take me
Another great album from the 60's! There's not much to say about it, it's just great. Not the best album in the world, but great. I'm gonna leave 4 stars.
Masterpiece! Favorite songs: Up On Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Across the Great Divide, Rag Mama Rag, Jemima Surrender, Look Out Cleveland Least favorite songs: Whispering Pines 4/5
Pretty fire to be honest
Lovely album
este álbum me sorprendió en todos los sentidos, no esperaba demasiado de este genero musical pero gran parte de él fue muy agradable de escuchar. aún así, siento que el álbum pierde un poco de gas al final, los últimos 3 temas te hacen ver a la seguidilla de los primeros 5 temas como un sueño lejano, pero definitivamente no te hacen olvidarlos, simplemente no están a la altura del disco en general. muy bueno y definitivamente voy a volver a escucharlo.
No soy fan de The Band, más allá de sus más conocidas canciones (The Weight por encima de todas) y The last Waltz que marcó el fin de una era. Este, su segundo disco, fue muy bien recibido por la crítica, aún sigue siendo muy reputado pero a mí no me termina de llegar. Prefiero a The Byrds o Los Flying Burrito (ni que decir de Gram Parsons). De este destaca sin lugar a dudas The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, con cadencia y estilo similar a The Weight.
Alotta good songs at the start but it loses its way around the halfway point, still really good though.
Good ole folk, Country, americana rock. Good songs, good stories, good musicians, good vocalists, and a good groove. They don’t pack a punch in the studio as well as live (The Last Waltz is my go to for them), but this is still a solid album.
A strong case that when great musicians play together, great music occurs
some pretty solid classic rock
Super
I love The Band. But this is not their very best album — the Last Waltz is the touchstone for Americana. And I’m surprised the critics who made this list wouldn’t have put Music from Big Pink on the list, since that’s “where it all began” for The Band.
feels like quintessential old white people music. no way they started yodeling thats crazy (it was kinda hard though i like it)
first listen good stuff
Was torn between a 3 or 4 rating. Gets a 4 because it really is interesting to hear this and hear lots of other bands I know they influenced. 4/5
RIP
4 stars. I personally wouldn't loop it but that's bc of my preferences. Overall every enjoyable and chill #to #me album that I would play in the background of a calm morning task.
Pretty great vibes here.
Rag Mama Rag The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down- maybe the best song ever written about the Civil War- not sure why Canadians memorialized the Confederacy
Probably not as good as Music from Big Pink, but a classic nevertheless.
A record I’m very familiar. Great songwriting and sound. The original Americana.
One of my buddies is obsessed with this album and the movie. It’s incredible musicianship.
Just great songwriting. Maybe not my favorite sound, but it’s played really well and sounds good — so many layers! Definitely interested in revisiting this. Must Listen #78
the influence of this album on the music ??? speechless
Fav: Whispering Pines Least Fav: Rag Mama Rag The Band prove to be a good band by making a country rock album that sounds pretty good for its length. It’s a shame many forgot this simple trick when making their own albums
Is it okay to like Big Pink better, because it seems a bit more contemplative and serious-sounding than this one? Plus, “The Weight” and “I Shall Be Released” are stronger than the hits on the eponymous record. However, one must respect the deep commitment in the The Band's approach here. Even if one feels like The Band gets too much credit for restoring a tradition (or creatIng the Americana category) that was never really lost (much like the demytholigizing of the American West massively outweighs and has been going on longer than the initial mytholigizing).
Day 10: Music From Big Pink - The Band. The Band Album 2/2. Like with Music From Big Pink, The Band's self-titled album is a very pleasant album that combines elements of various different genres. It features a lot of really enjoyable harmonies, and the instrumentation is quite pleasant. Sadly, The Band's final surviving member, Garth Hudson, recently passed away. Now, this album, along with the rest of The Band's work, feels a lot more haunting. Nothing is inherently scary about this album, but the knowledge that every sound that you hear on this album comes from the dead is somewhat scary to think about. I didn't find the experience listening to this album to be very deviant from the experience of listening to Music From Big Pink, but I do have a slight preference for Music From Big Pink. I think that only one album from The Band would have been enough for "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". The inclusion of a Phish album would have been rather interesting in lieu of this album. Personal Enjoyment: 4/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 3/5.
Feels like The Band missed a golden opportunity not naming one of their albums in their discography "The Album". But alas... This album feels like distilled Americana with classics like The Night They Drove Down Old Dixie and Up On Cripple Creek. It feels super folksy but not in an overbearing way. The instrumentals and production are excellent throughout. Might need a few more listens to get a better feel for this, but I do think it firmly belongs as a solid 4.
The third best album by the Band after Big Pink and Stage Fright. I'm a fan, but could get by in life without ever hearing The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down again. Across the Great Divide is a weedy beauty of a song. A lot of the rest runs together much like the cars in a demolition derby. I though I hated Up on Cripple Creek for years until I listened to it on purpose. The recently departed organist Garth Hudson really shines on this record.
I was only gonna give this three stars but then they closed with an absolute BANGER in King Harvest (Has Surely Come).
Classic American rock band, fun listen, thought Bob Dylan then read they played with him. Nice!
Ace
8/10 a bit more my vibe ! again I maybe wouldn't add any to my playlists but wouldn't necessarily skip a few if they came on shuffle. can see how for their time it would be a big thing and can see lots of influence into modern music.
Bit boring
Definitely a vibe - feels like modern alternative rock
country-rock classic with a couple of absolute belters
Fucking awesome, love folk rock stuff need to listen to more of these
Isch nüd s 1. Album, obwohl mer das vermuete chönnt. Hetti nie dänkt, ds sie ursprünglich am Bob Dylan gsie sind. Feelgood-Musig, abwächsligsrich. Whispering Pines sooo schön, King Harvest mega.
across the great divide findi sehr simpel aber no nice. aso nüt speziells. rag mama rag sehr cool mit viele fiddle und coole chords macht nöd so die wendige womer wür erwarte. bass tönt seeehr geil. the night they drove old dixie down cute. etz au nöd meeega. when you awake etz au nöd bahnbrechend irgendwie. up on cripple creek swirige titel. aber es tönt wie little tommy vo maltschik. aso country rock halt. ok ich finds super. whispering pines isch niice sie singed suuper schöön, seehr geili melodie. ihri gitarre töned soo geil. so crunchy. gad uf jemima surrender. rockin chair so country so schön super. unfaithful servant isch meeega schön! king harvest au suuuper. love it. nüt schlechts a dem album aber s het mi au nüt umghaue. vieri.
hahaha across the great divide isch ja vill meh upbeat als ich denkt hett rag mama rag tönt sehr andersch! nöd mega min fall, chli zu quirky the night they deove old dixie down isch uhuere schön up on cripple creek findi de bass und d drums recht modern? kei ahnig wiso s so uf mich würkt whispering pines uuuhuere schön sie chegget eifach hert, was mached look out cleveland isch super allgemein hanis gfühl, s isch chli weniger verspielt als big pink jawbone hanis gfühl, kenni?? halt eifach de refrain mitem 6/4 aber vlt tüschi mich au unfaithful servant isch easy jaa, wie gseit weniger guet als big pink, aber finds immerno sehr guet! via
Pretty solid.
Full and complete
Thank the moon and stars for giving us the Band today. Nice to have Spike Jones on the box. Dad rock to the rescue!
Up on cripple creek Drove old dixie Rag mama rag Wispering pines
A great record that still feels relevant. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-the-band-by-the-band?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true