Rock Bottom

Horrible noise.

It's a no from me dawg.

DNF - I would be embarrassed to watch the car crash that is this music if I saw it in person. Between the key changes mid melody, the 3 minute "whoa" during "A Last Straw", the discordant non-stop trumpets in "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road", it's just painful and indecisive. Robert Wyatt's album has a distinct identity and it should be hidden away.

Really interesting and nice sounding to either pay attention to or have in the background :)

This is an all time favorite of mine. This album is so beautiful and sad you can’t listen to it outside because you would have to explain why you’re weeping in public. This album is famous for being recorded after Wyatt fell out of a window and became paraplegic, and it’s all over the music. He’s capturing the feeling of falling out the window and not yet hitting the ground. The looming pain and despair and complete inability to do anything about it. As the album goes on so does the depth of the fall deepen, you lose touch with reality and just drown in a pool of sorrow. If you wanna talk music, I’d say this is squarely prog rock which also betrays its latent ambient leaning. Wyatt’s delivery is so great, emotional and rhythmic. Great drums also (unsurprisingly Floydian). Anyway a complete must if you like prog, art rock or just sad rock. Five stars.

Not for me

Shite

2,5

Nope, too outdated and uninspiring

I've been watching Twin Peaks lately, so this album fits pretty well into my current mood. It's a very interesting album, and I would be willing to listen again.

I didn't enjoy this one. I gave it 3 tracks before giving up. It just wasn't for me.

Oh, this is a weird one! At first I wasn't sure, but there are some things I liked in there.

Ehhhh, ok. The story behind the album is more entertaining than the album.

I like strange. But, respectfully, it’s difficult to find all that much that’s particularly profound or even interesting—either lyrically or musically—on the first couple of tracks. Yikes! The *are* some interesting sounds on the tracks that follow. So be patient. A mixed bag—and not really essential.

Really solid, the synthesizer use in this is outstanding and just has a very unique sound that stood out from other 70s rock albums. Very glad I listened to this.

Love his voice

This was a complete surprise for me. Seems super innovative for its era. It’s influence on bands like Radiohead is clear, with the droning and cacophony moments. While it’s not my thing, I enjoyed it.

Too bad he survived

I would like that 40 minutes back, please

Boring

Taking prog rock to strange new navel gazing places

Almost bottom

A little to experimental for me.

This is terrible and unlistenable.

Not bad!

Ahead of it's time? Meh, maybe. It's pretty interesting, though! 3.5/5

ok once, but not me

Instantly had to run this one back. I didn’t “get” all of it. I do not care. I really liked this. The warmth of the instrumentals, the flow, the use of his voice as a texture within the composition. Some high quality noodling here. Favorites were Sea Song, A Last Straw, and Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road (both of them)

This was a unique album….at first I really was not impressed but there was something about the later songs that were oddly rhythmic

What if Pink Floyd was actually an awful prog band? It would be this album. At least the title tells you how bad it's gonna be.

3.5/10

Wanted to love but honestly didnt

I also fight for the crust of a little brown loaf.

I really wasn’t expecting this. Really liked the first couple of tracks. We were definitely heading for a 4 or a 5. But then it seemed to lose its way with Little Red Riding Hood which is a bit of a mess and then some bizarre goose impressions on a sax. Overall still enjoyed it in a weird way. And great to hear singing in a Kentish accent. 3½

this album cover is really beautiful...per his spotify bio this is about the aftermath of him falling out of his window and breaking his back, hence the rock bottom. Overall I enjoyed!

Eh it's fine, Wyatt's soft machine stuff is better though

If you wanna know my first reaction to seeing this album pop up, I'll be blunt — it was something along the lines of, "Uuuuugh. Lookit this **cover**. Lookit this **genre tag** on Wikipedia: 'Canterbury scene?' That sounds like some folksy nonsense. Like, lemme guess: this is some folksy nonsense that Big Important Rock Critics™ lost their minds over at the time because ... well, of course they would. **And** it's English! Goodness!" OK, I might be exaggerating my reaction a little. But when you put aside the vitriol, it's not **that** far off from what I was thinking. Like, seriously: "Canterbury scene." Does that **none** sound like it'd be some kind of willowy, pastoral folk? And with the relationship **I've** had with folk music this far...! I did not have the highest of expectations for this thing. Initially, anyway. Y'see, I didn't listen to this thing right away; I just didn't have the time to when my group got it. So it flew into my backlog, alongside 'I Am A Bird Now' and other random records. And in the interim, that gave me the opportunity to read up on Robert Wyatt. 'Coz coming up to this, I figured that maybe there was something I could gather from historical context. Music doesn't exist solely in a vacuum, so perhaps if I had some kind of story to go along with it...? And indeed I got one: the story of Robert Wyatt becoming paraplegic and yet still persisting in recording this album anyway. Not that being a wheelchair could stop anyone from recording music, but y'know what I mean. And to cut this off, I didn't decide I was gonna be all positive on this album just because he lost the use of his legs. I'd maybe feel like a jerk if I was negative, but if I did, well, that would just be how I felt. But it did get me thinking, maybe I should challenge my preconception — like, actively challenge them. 'Coz using this as another excuse to rail against Big Important Critics™ wouldn't be fair to Robert Wyatt or his music. So, take those preconceptions, push 'em up against a wall and ask 'em, "Do you hold up?" Pff! Of course they don't! I mean, for one, this isn't even folksy nonsense! "Canterbury scene" might've scared me into thinking it was, but it seems I forget that genre labels like that don't mean jack or shit. No, this album is more light prog rock with some jazzy tones. And .... y'know, I'm not gonna act like hearing about those jazzy tones wouldn't have had me worried either. Unless it's the real stuff like Miles or Coltrane, whenever an artist adds in "jazz influence" it always seems to end up meaning "light, mushy nonsense because they're too busy focusing on the chords." And while this music is light, like I said, I wouldn't call it mushy, or even nonsense. It's ... strange. Y'know? And not in a big avant-garde way like The Residents. It's just a little unconventional — even for prog rock. And it's in this I sort of get why this album has such a low average rating. It's light and strange, and I imagine for most people there's just not a lot to latch onto. I mean, these songs can kind of feel like they're not going anywhere, even despite the claims that it uses the song-form structure of rock or folk. Roberty Wyatt said he had a problem with noodling, and **this** is what he came up with? I can see where the issue would lie, and it's not that I can't agree with it to some extent... But overall, I'd say I was absolutely captivated by this album. There was a point where I was thinking of saying that it gets by on "vibes," but as I got closer to the end the more I realized that wasn't accurate at all. I mean, "vibes" implies you don't need to listen that closely and you can just float along on the music. With this album, I think the more appropriate descriptor I'd use is that it's one of those "journey" records. The kind you put on and **have** to listen to from start to end, **with** headphones on. Either you experience it in full, or you don't bother. Honestly, it might be one of "Fantasiaing" records where you let the music dictate your imagination — and I do adore me a good "Fantasiaing" record every now and then. Now, where does this journey go? Obviously, it depends from person to person. But for my own experience with the album, keeping in mind Robert Wyatt's situation and how much of a catharsis this album might've been for him ... I can only imagine it as a journey to rock bottom. One where you might think it's inevitable; there's no escaping this destination. And as you walk, you reflect on everything that came before the moment you set off, and all of the happy memories you're leaving behind. And you approach the edge, ready to remain trapped down in rock bottom — when, suddenly, another way presents itself. A way that leads into the setting sun and a better future. And without missing a beat, that's the way you choose. And as you roll along to this better place, you know it'll always be stuck in the back of your mind that you almost chose the abyss over this, possibly without ever knowing it existed — but you can only laugh at it, because dang it, you didn't choose it. My preconceptions never would've guessed I'd come up with all that. In the end, I can't deny that this isn't a weird little album. Between the lightness, and, heck, Robert's vocals (which I haven't even mentioned to this point), I can understand why this album has such a low average rating. But I gotta agree with a fellow group member: you've just gotta be able to open yourself to what it's doing. I did, and I found a lot of pretty moments to enjoy. And if someone just can't open themselves, that's fair. It's just one of those situations where, honestly, I feel like they're missing out a little. Good shit, Robert. I hope your other album on this list holds up as well.

Might be a more simplified version of prog, but it's still some good stuff nonetheless. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Fascinatingly bizarre, to say the least. While it slows down a little too much in the second half of the album (hence the 4.5), I found myself entranced by the sort of “super abstract Bowie” vibes this album has going for it. There’s not really a bad soundscape here; based on the 2.38 on the site, I figured it would be louder & abrasive, but this is far more attuned to a sort of Brian Eno-y ambience, meddled with by throwing some avant-garde melodies at the wall to compliment it, but never hitting a point that felt truly loud or obnoxious. If anything, this is a really technically sound album, in terms of mixing the instruments to create a good sense of space between everything, volume control for his vocals (which are abstract, but never bad), and the complexity towards some of the instrumentals here. In particular, I think the brass / percussion work on this thing is super cool, & the guitar riffs that occasionally chime in add a flair to each track that makes it all work. Lyrically, I couldn’t tell you a damn thing happening here. In the abstract, I think it’s very loosely an album where a guy in love breaks up with his girlfriend (first 3 tracks), slowly goes insane following some sort of accident (based on the nonsense lyrics on Tracks 4 & 5), with the last track acting as a proper descent into madness, but that’s just my read on things. It makes sense to be based on some sort of accident, based on Robert Wyatt becoming a paraplegic before recording this album, though he claims he wrote most of / all of it before the accident. Robert Wyatt, by the way, is the former lead drummer / vocalist for Soft Machine. When we got “Third” as our 22nd album, I gave it a 2 because those tracks went on without any clear direction, & they lasted an ungodly amount of time. I don’t think going back to that album would raise it up any higher than a 3 for me, but I do wonder if this album feels more aligned to what they envisioned. I think this is much tighter, for sure, given the shorter (yet still long) tracks. I think the attempts to blend some jazzier tones with synth work is much more effective here. His vocals are still kinda silly in nature, but he uses them well to create a better atmosphere overall. I’m genuinely fascinated that this has an even lower rating on the site than “Third”, because I think it’s just far more enjoyable. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea; the floor really is probably a 2 if the sense of progression on this thing isn’t super strong (it has some ‘eh’ moments) or if his vocals still feel extremely weird (understandable), but I liked the weird, entrancing effect this had on me. I think it’s a coherent album, and 40 minutes that you have to buy into, but it’s worth it to my ears, and I recommend it. It's a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5.

meh

Worst of both worlds. Ethereal music is a no-go for me. “Sounds like a frog dying”

Trauma porn. If he wasn’t in the accident this would be dismissed as the amateurish nonsense that it is. It’s great they all got together and no doubt he earned well and I have no problem with that. . But this is not worth 1001 albums. Next. 2 stars.

Under-baked demos for an album. Unfocussed with "jazz" pretentions and terrible lyrics. I feel like much of the playing on this album is trying to "jazz", and the players really aren't up to it. Simon Reynolds, whose opinions I generally respect, described the live performance of this album as a type of "Anglicised Bitches Brew" -- which is really drawing a long bow. Bitches Brew this ain't. Wyatt himself should not be allowed near instruments frankly. Wyatt has a nice voice, but he is in desperate search of an actual song. 'Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road' (both parts) are not too bad, because of its more rhythmical nature and Mike Oldfield doing his uniquely Mike Oldfield thing. Actually, my attitude has softened a bit on a second listening. But I still can't see myself really liking this no matter how many times I listen through.

It is difficult interacting with genius when you are not and you encounter it in a genre where you admittedly have no interest. Such is the case here. I have no interest in the Canterbury scene, British Folk, or in this case a somber folk jazz which has several interesting passages but those are significantly outnumbered by many minutes of just slow weird shit. I’m good with weird - just not slow weird. I have encountered Wyatt in other contexts - a cover of The Elvis Costello track “Shipbuilding” and Tears for Fears cover of Sea Witch” from this record. Both are enjoyable, but not enough for me to take the dive to find out more. Sea Witch and the first version of Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road are the best of the lot. It took great fortitude on my part to commit to the experience. Imagine driving in Los Angeles in a convertible on Sunset and rocking this album as you sit beside a Swiftie in the next vehicle. This would truly be a WTF?? moment. What is this alien sound? That’s not singing it’s a gruff spoken word piece with some pretty dark lyrics. Apparently, this record was written before Robert fell off a building becoming a paraplegic. It was recorded after the accident. Rock Bottom should give you some hint as to what is in store. However, despite the darkness, there are ethers moments that fleetingly hopeful. There is one passage that I thought was going to lead into Rattlesnake by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, but that could just be fucking my mind fucking with me as Robert whisper talks sings to a vibey prog jazz. I do believe there is genius in these passages. I just don’t connect with genius.

Robert Wyatt wrote the beautiful hit of my youth, Shipbuilding, and his version of that is better than Elvis Costello's cover. That was the sum total of my prior knowledge. I'd no idea of anything else he'd done, before or since. Some words as they come me whilst listening: challenging, curious, moving, Bowie (Eno)-esque, strange, Radiohead, wailing, other-worldly, simultaneously naive and complex, sea, sand, jazzy, wahhh, gorgeous, ethereal, Mike Garson-style plinky plonk, trumpets, soundscape, beauty, wandering bass, trippy, scary in places, Bowie/Eno again, amazing. Maybe I should review more albums with random words. This is as odd as anything, but I'm truly glad to have found it. Genuinely extraordinary. I loved it!

This one is hard for me to rate. It is utterly unique and hauntingly beautiful in a discordant, at times chaotic way. It's an album to be felt in the soul - not processed in the brain. It is not pretty, or simple, or easily digested. It's not even easy to listen to. It feels like a hurting soul translating a melancholy fever dream into music. I am glad that I experienced this, and am absolutely amazed - but I'm not sure it's a ride I want to go on again. 7/10

I liked the songs that weren’t full of electronica.

★★½

Ok

Just a bit too progressive for me. Seemed almost haphazard in its construction and none of the constituent parts shined brightly enough to justify that eccentricity.

0/10 - Would not recommend. Had to listen to Rumours as a palette cleanser.

Synes det er bra annerledes, men klikker liksom ikke helt

nah I dont get it

i think maybe i do not get the appeal of robert wyatt's music. the album is technically proficient, it is a bit mindbending, but it's also kind of a bore and a chore to listen to. it's not very fun. feels artsy for art's sake, which is my least favorite feeling while listening to artsy music. i can see why people enjoy this album, but for me it's a pretty big swing and a miss.

This record is like if someone heard David Bowie playing off in the distance one time and tried to recreate it from memory. Dissonant nonsense, total mumbo jumbo. “Best” Track: Sea Song

Very dreamy for a prog album. Reading that a guy made this album after becoming a paraplegic is insane and I wonder how much of that pain was put into the making of this album. I loved how flowy and almost disjointed the album feels at times, like lots of parts are being thrown at the same thing and they happen to line up really well. Some of the songs on this sound straight-up ominous in a way that I feel like I haven't seen any other prog album/artist attempt. I really fail to see how this is the 18th lowest rated album on the site.

Its annoying I don't like it. I only made it through the first 2 tracks.

Too slow psychedelic

Couldn’t finish the album.. not my type. Don’t know why it was in 1000 album list?

This was weird, but I kinda liked it. Three stars.

What is this?? Experimental jazz folk!? A little too dissonant and all over the place for me. Reading about the history of the album helped contextualize it better for me but I won’t pretend I actually enjoyed it. Artistic for sure but not for me.

This album didn't make much of an impression but it wasn't a difficult listen, either.

I always say I like weird esoteric stuff… then I listen to something like this and think “but do I?”

Wtf was that

Leicht bowie vibes nicht mein favorite Bisschen dry Rating: 3,1

3/5

This is definitely rock bottom - terrible and weird

Robert Wyatt is without a doubt a talented man and did tremendous things as part of Soft Machine. This solo album (as well as the Shleep which is also on this list) leaves me cold. It has some nice instrumentation and interesting lyrics, but it all sounds like an incoherent mess, experimental for the experimental sake. I'm sorry.

Wow, er... OK. This was quite something. Imagine if the members from Genesis were to all undergo frontal lobotomies and were given the task of assembling something which vaguely resembles their own music using FL Studio preset tools and tracks from the free trial version, whilst recruiting newly-divorced and in denial Gary from the local Woolpack Inn to employ his drunken stupor falsetto wailing from one Thursday karaoke night across an entire album, and you have a vague idea of what's going on here. All under the pseudonym of "Robert Wyatt" for the purpose of creating further intrigue. Does that sound like absolute shite to you? It probably is, but my "dropped on my head as a baby" brain is somehow ironically fascinated by it. Amazingly, I've only really scratched the surface. From the opening track "Sea Song", Rock Bottom heads off into arguably even more absurd directions, with some very unsettling, deliberately incohesive bass guitar, saxophone and keyboard playing culminating in a disturbingly beautiful avant garde mess of an album. It doesn't make sense, but I like things that don't make sense. We're even treated to a guest appearance from Gary's Scottish fishmonger mate Donald on the final track, sensing the opportunity to write himself into the history books in the library of "what the fuck". This is the sort of stuff that I signed up to this challenge for, not Elvis Costello and his unending encyclopedia of collated milquetoast sounds.

Really wanted to like this more after digging Shleep. Hopefully it will rise in my estimations with repeated listenings. 3/5

Terrible. Just sounds like random noise with no purpose nor direction

odd. but ok.

2.5

2.5

This is definitely one of those albums that I find more interesting to listen to than pleasant... Is also one where I think the story behind it gives it a bit more gravity than it would be if it wasn't there given that this was the first album after his accident that left him a paraplegic. I can definitely hear some of the Floydian accent that Nick Mason added to this album and probably especially in the one track I really enjoyed "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road" that one with the almost running like musical landscape that's on there really sparked my mental imagery. And it's the only one that really Sparks it that well I would have to say my other two tracks that really worked for me were "Alifib" & "Alfie" especially on the incredible sax hits going on in "Alfie". I think all in all I do like the album and I think it has some beautiful landscapes but it's not something that I really would enjoy repeating a lot it kind of reminds me of the experimentation albums of Pink Floyd between 69 and 71 where I think I get more out of the examining experimentation that I actually do listening to it (6.8) ★★★

Like bits of this, but some of this is just too chaotic. 3.5 stars

I wasn't too high on this Robert Wyatt album. Kinda liked "Sea Song" and "Alifib". The rest, not so much. 2.5 stars.

3.5

Nick Mason of Pink Floyd produces which is cool. Mike Oldfield also plays guitar near the end which is also cool. With this being his record Robert Wyatt sings as well which is just about tolerable until he does his old drunk hobo fisherman scat singing in abundance. And then after a couple of tracks it starts to swamp up with leagues of avant garde orchestration and freeform jazz sax. Earache Records was a label that supposedly debuted in 1987 but they actually pulled off a surprise earlier secret launch album with this one. The classic mid-80s line up of Scritti Politti - Green Gartside, David Gamson and Fred Maher - all bonded and unified because of their fondness for Robert Wyatt so that’s probably the main thing that keeps this record from being Rock Bottom on my list.

Very interesting record. From the start it has a somber overtone, and then it just kind of gets odd, almost sounding like it doesn't know what it wants to be, and that's probably the objective. It's a calm, moody record with some unique sequencing and an overall spacey, zoned out vibe. The instrumentation is easy to listen to and the vocals can get a bit...out there...but it's a cool record of experimentation.

Falsetto. Didn't dig it. 4/10

Well that’s a hell of a description, even if short - Soft Machine 🙌🏻 Pink Floyd 🙌🏻 and recorded after being made paraplegic 😱 so intrigued for this. I remember the ONLY thing I didn’t like about the Soft Machine album was the singing. And it is much more present on this and just don’t like it. The accent, the strain, the wetness :-/ Love the backing. The vox just kill it for me. Like spinal tap or something. Felt comical at times and just didn’t really do it for me but kudos for flying the prog rock flag. (2.5)

Følte ingenting aent enn litt ubehag.

This album is pretty weird but pretty cool kinda, some tracks sounded like something from video games like Minecraft, others just reminded me of one of those weird shows i used to watch as kid that I can’t remember, this whole album just sounds like one of those random music generator which I like :)

Good

Just after an accident which left wyatt disabled it would have been understandable for a pause. However he delivers a lovely album. Sea song is affecting, humorous, beautifully sang and just breathtaking. Songs about his wife complement this song on what is only short but perfect piece.

Didn’t read the back story with his other album on this list so I guess this being a post accident album makes sense, though I definitely would not have gotten that sense had I not read the bio.

Quite annoying stuff

Weird. Not what I was expecting. Alife sounds like Bjork falling through a trombone factory. Can’t say I enjoyed it or would listen again but being weirdly experimental and odd, it feels more at place on this list than some of the more forgettable inoffensive stuff we’ve had. 2.5 rounded down

Probably 3.5

Very interesting side of 70's prog which I really love. I need to get more into this Robert Wyatt rabbit hole for sure. Very unique album.

4.9

Fusion rock jazz psychedelia and atmospherics, feels like a Pink Floyd influence. Touches my art rock nerve in a nice way.

Rambling. 2.

it was aight

nice / experimental / fascinating story behind it

Seriously, who listens to shit like this?

An okay album but not really my style of music. I liked Alifib the most.

Psychedelic soundscape of classic rock infused experimental instruments. Chills on more than 1 song

This was an alright album, nothing too crazy but it was interesting!

Didn't even understand what this was

atmospheric and british

Day 36 I found the story behind this album more interesting than the album itself. Didn’t hate it and definitely glad I’ve heard it but doubt I’ll revisit at all 4/10 Highlight Alife

Why is this on the list???

Bottom 20 album on this site. I’ve always loved this though and am looking forward to getting Soft Machine’s Third as I've never listened to any of their music. Album cover perfectly paired to the music. Anyone who complains about the nature of this record probably thinks Picasso was an awful painter. Tempted to give this a 5 just because my Highest Rated section has a B&W theme going by pure coincidence.

What a wild ride, needs more than one listen. I can't pin where I want this album, the last track was the ultimate climax and best track. I think I'll be back, so much to unpack

wow! a flawless album. id heard his prior band and heard rumour of his solo excellence… my god i wasted so much time. literally played the album in full 5 times yesterday. ill probably play it again after today’s album…

ne znam, snervalo me

E ovo je već više po mom guštu😃

It’s not uninteresting but there’s a lot of noodling

Nee, wat een klote album. Begon nog wel oke, maar daarna joh.. Geen ritme, verschillende piano klanken alsof je een baby achter een piano zet een een ontieglijk hoge valse zangstem. Heb oprecht bepaalde nummers doorgespoeld vanwege de irritatie die het mij gaf. Dit is met recht 1 reet.

The definition of a mellow high? Not the rantings of an angry person, but rantings none the less.

I think this is a 4.5, as it just only slightly falters to hit what I think could have been its highest heights. It holds back just a bit where I think Wyatt could have pushed things a little further. However, it's restraint is also part of its strength, and the experimentation with the almost ambient and film score like compositions makes it a great listen and something unique and with a soft-spoken confidence.

Начало было довольно многообещающе, но после первых двух или трёх композиций меня стали напрягать звуки издаваемые саксофоном и чем только не попадя. Но конец альбома был неожиданным и довольно интересным. В остальном же не особо

Thus far, no other album has challenged me quite as much as this one. I've given it more playthroughs than I've given any other, and after each listen (and even at different times within each run), I've wanted to give this 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 stars. To say this is a complicated piece of art is an understatement. It doesn't follow the formula of a traditional album. It's not a collection of jingles, and it doesn't feel like a story put to music. It's more like a painting of sounds - as if Wyatt uses various instruments (his voice included) as audio brushes to create something without definition. Like any abstract art, it's up to you to figure out what it means to you - which means, "I don't get it" or "I absolutely hate this" are perfectly sound conclusions to make. No one appreciates everything in a museum, but everything is appreciated by someone. So, where does this land with me? It's tough to say. There are moments that aggravate me (e.g. the horns and vocals are often agitating), but there are also moments that I find quite enjoyable - almost soothing (e.g. many of the keyboard, piano, and string pieces). Despite having it on repeat nearly all day, it's not something I would want to play very often. It demands far too much attention for casual listening. It's avant-garde, but not in that "let's be weird just to be weird" way that anything Frank Zappa has ever touched feels like. I sensed authenticity here more than I sensed artiness. I guess, given how much thought this has evoked from me, my personal assessment has to be a 5 - though I simultaneously understand and can fully respect the position of the 1 camp (and everyone else in between).

Yikes! Did we hit rock bottom on this list?

Reading the backstory about Robert Wyatt’s paralysis and then listening to the album helps with context. It reminds me of Bitches Brew in that it’s almost intentional unlikable on a first listen. Did I enjoy it? Nope. Did I hate it? Not at all. Did it captivate me enough to listen again? Not sure yet.

Not my cup of tea. Very strange music. It was produced by Pink Floyd's drummer, so I would have expected something better. Background music was fine. Singer was all right, but I feel that it could have been something more soulful. 2/5

Nogle øjeblikke hvor det hele går op i en højere enhed, men generelt ikke for mig

Virkelig fedt fund her på listen! Mærkeligt men jeg synes aldrig det er mærkeligt bare for at være mærkeligt.

This was a really special experience. Super psychedelic and weird, but somehow still keeps dragging you in. I imagine this opens up more on repeated listens.

has its vibey parts but not enough.

Mostly uninteresting. Some interesting stuff but the songs mostly go on too long.

Not sure what's going on here. Weird stuff maybe needs to listen on headphones I don't know

Stark. Disturbing at times. Visceral droning noises. Off putting lyrics. I warmed up to it as it went along. ~2.75/5

Meh

This album...only having six songs, I feel like I watched a horror film. The songs made me confused, uncountable...it was trip for sure. Not sure what artistic direction the artist was going in, but I wasn't following it at all.

This came off as the ramblings of a madman to me. Did not enjoy.

I like the folky sound of a lot of this album, but it gets too drone-y and discordant in section for me to really want to come back to it.

Experimental Crap

Maybe I'm not smart enough to get this album. But that was a brutal listen, checked off the list and will never revisit it.

Never been a prog-rock person, too much meandering and weird breathing in this one. I also really do not enjoy whatever the vocals are trying to accomplish.

Weird, but interesting enough beyond that

There's something here man. I can't quite say what yet. It's weird. Really weird. Like a weirder Genesis, which really just made me want to listen to Genesis. But there's something here. Maybe it's just wacko. But, maybe it's brilliant? Who decides what avant-garde music is good? And how do they decide that? What makes John Coltrane perfect -- and Robert Wyatt just another goober? Not a final rating. Fave songs: - Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road (1 & 2) - Alifib

I haven't listened yet. Started but it was too quiet to understand at work volume. Interested though. Just finishing it. Interesting but I wouldn't seek it out again

Weird but not bad? Kind of? I dunno how to rank this one. The first two songs and the last were great but the middle of the album was annoying close to a 3

What is with the first song? Nevermind I understand, this album is about a seaman going crazy. Or Robert Wyatt's decent into madness.

I would have actually rated this a 1 based on what I heard in the first ten minutes, but the last 3 songs has some really cool avant prog vibes, and I appreciate the experimentation.

Not really my vibe. Interesting lyrics though.

Not sure it was for me, probably wouldn’t listen again, cool concept though. I did really like little red riding hood hit the road which moved it up from 2 to 3 stars

I hated this. Sounds like a muppet who got turned into a human, then got drunk, and then recorded an album. Disjointed and weird. Maybe because I'm not from the era, idk.

I'm going to be honest, the album gave me a headache two songs in.

This album was really out there.

This was a weird album

Woof, those vocals at the end of Sea Song. The jazz fusion really shows up in Red Riding Hood, but unfortunately the rest of the album didn’t get any more consistent or listenable

This album is batshit and I could have gone with anything from 1-5 at various points. Experimental, brave and challenging. Reminds me of Radiohead and Neutral Milk Hotel at times The absolute madness of Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road (side 1 version) was a highlight, with its backwards vocals and cacophony of brass, that song is a real attack on the senses. By the time we get to tracks 4 and 5 it genuinely sounds like he's making it up as he goes, and not even using real words half of the time. This is a difficult listen but it's a hell of an experience. I think I embrace the chaos.. just about

Without looking, I'm gonna guess this is not a popular album on this site. It's a nice little bit of artsy jazz-oriented rock, but can get pretty avant-garde. According to my records, I apparently gave this a listen back in 2016, which I have no recollection of. Reminds me a bit of modern day Richard Dawson. *Heard before

Interesting, 3 stars. Than you Robert, very personal.

It has its charms, if you look really really hard and squint a little.

Very interesting album with beautiful arrangements, I actually enjoyed the nonsense-lyrics track Alifie. I can't tell if I would have preferred traditional lyrics on more of the album did fit the overall theme. Overall I liked it but I will need to re-listen to get more out of it, definitely not the easiest listen.

Pretty boring overall but there were some cool parts

Favourites: Sea Song, Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road, Alifib

I can certainly appreciate the hard work that went into this album. Knowing the state that Robert Wyatt was in, convalescing after being paralyzed by an accident, and still trying his damnedest to make this album, does affect my view of it. I can appreciate that this album sounds like no other music I've heard, which was partly its intent. That said... This doesn't appeal to me. The songwriting is unconventional and striking, but like a broken computer. The instrumentation sounds off; it sounds too improvisational and not improvisational enough, if that makes sense. It doesn't really come together aside from the story behind it.

Another shining example of why drummers should never strike out on their own...and I am saying this as a drummer of 25 years, myself. (j/k....kinda) This album is essentially unlistenable and has absolutely no place on this list. Like, what the fuck, man? 1/5

"Rock Bottom" is a beautiful album. How can you describe it as "dog shit"? That leaves me a bit speechless. But okay, to one man his pearl is to another his dog shit. Robert Wyatt's "Rock Bottom" is one of my favorite albums. It's incredibly atmospheric and surreal. Probably polarizing, too. Six stars for me, outstanding.

Odd and artsy

The first couple of tracks did not make me hopeful. But from track three and onwards- it really gets interesting, and you settle into the madness of it. Rock Bottom sounds like stream of consciousness reads. Listening to this album made me realize there are two types of music just like there are two types of serial killer: organized and disorganized. Rock, pop, blues, and all of their descendants are pretty organized. Jazz and all of its offshoots are disorganized. This album seems to take the organized elements of rock and then disorganize some of them and keep some of them the exact same. It is very unusual….. I don’t love it but I see what they're doing here. THREE STARS

Officer, it’s this guy.

It wasn’t for me I know he had a nasty accident and had to give up professional drumming but I just couldn’t get on with it.

I didn’t like it

Pretty interesting album - is that C3PO on one of the tracks?

I can't forsake you or forsqueak you - Hamlet

Le tengo cariños a los discos progresivos de los 70. No creo que sean de gusto general, pero no es un mal disco.

2 esrelas

I’ll give this a one. And that’s grading on a handicap

soundtrack to a modern art museum ass music 1/5

Robert Wyatt was partly responsible for the absolutely dire Soft Machine album, 'Third', which I begrudgingly awarded a whole star a few months ago. I was not excited to see this come up on my generator today. Thankfully, he seems to have taken a different approach with his solo work, that of actually making coherent songs with something approaching structure and melody. Now, that's not to say this is an album of catchy pop songs, it's experimental and challenging and parts of it are, let's be brutally honest, deeply odd. But I was pleasantly surprised by the Little Reds ‘Robin’ and ‘Riding’ Hood and there's plenty of delightful, melodic ear candy buried here amongst the noise, jazz-fusion-tinged bursts and frankly bizarre lyrics. I must confess, with successive days I’ve returned to it more and more out of a combination of affection and curiosity and as I’ve got used to its strangeness, I’ve come to really enjoy it for its mad genius.

Rock bottom of this list is more like it. Another example of why drummers make fucked up albums.

I liked it, though it's not particularly memorable.

Not my cup of tea.

Rather dull Prog Rock noodling. A compelling story, but the music loses its way.

Sounded like a bunch of leftovers from a soft machine session.

I have no idea what's going on

Not bad. Long songs!

Ik voelde het niet hierbij. Nochtans ligt psychedelische rock uit de jaren 70 wel binnen mijn smaak. Z'n stem stoorde me een beetje. Niet aan te doen. 2.1

This one just didn't do it for me. The shaky vocals, the more experimental type sound. I couldn't get with it.

Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom: A pretty good and chill album. Pink floydish, though not as good as their stronger stuff. Very nice instrumentation and singing, but its a bit too pretentious. I enjoyed every song but it does feel kinda full of itself if that makes sense. Still some good music though. 7.5/10

File this under “Life’s Too Short”. It’s weird, experimental 70’s dross. But it is aptly titled. No thanks…one star.

Says jazz-fusion is the worst of both worlds and then makes this BS. He probably gets no hoes.

Robert Wyatt is one of the most interesting artists I’ve come to know through this project. I was surprised to see yet another album by him on this list, but I’d take a hundred of these over some of the dull albums I’ve had to listen to. This album is far less folksy than his album Shleep that I heard before this one. Rock Bottom almost verges on Krautrock grooves with lead guitar lines that could appear on a Mars Volta album. Wyatt’s voice still tries to keep up with the music, but is all the more charming for it. I noted in my review of Shleep that it reminded me of Ivor Cutler, and then he turns up on this album! Just goes to show: I know what I’m talking about.

Mist

Imagine Pink Floyd (in about 1971, before they turned dreamy) tried to make a record with Nick Drake and, say, Neutral Milk Hotel. The process maybe didn't go as well as they hoped, and nobody actually loves it, but they managed to come up with 5 or 6 mildly interesting tracks.

Pretty interesting and experimental but not necessarily something I want to listen to that much or that often; it felt too dark and dirge-y and not really coherent enough.

"Pip pippy pippy pip pip landerim" sounds like the activation code for a sleeper agent, but I digress. I don't know how to feel about this album really, it's not a three because it was so unique, but I certainly can't say it's a 4,, so I guess I have to give it a 2.

More art rock nonsense.

My first pass this was super low on my list. But I didn't finish and came back for a second time around. It still isn't high on my list but has pushed up to a 3 at least. Great tone. I loved the ending string and brogue singing bit.

2/5

I wouldn’t advise running to this album. In fact it’s almost as bad to run to as Houmous & Chutneys infamous anti-joggers album ‘Stitch Up’ 2.3 1/6 Sea Song

El sonido no me parece de mucha calidad o como minimo esta mal calibrado porque la voz suena mucho mas por debajo que la musica. Tiene. Solo he escuchado la primera cancion y me da una sensacion super oscura, retorcida y turbia, me siento en una pesadilla. Pero con el resto de las canciones igual, tiene unas armonias super oscuras, no creo que lo vaya a terminar poque no puedo escuhar las canciones enteras sin sentir que hay algo mal con el disco. Si esa es la intencion, hacerte sentir en peligro y disgustado, chapo. Le pongo una estrella porque no le puedo puntuar con ninguna

Pink Floyd if they didn't kick Syd out

If the song Alife is what I think it's about then fuck you Robert Wyatt

Pretty terrible album. The story behind the artist is better than the music unfortunately.

If I never heard this album again it wouldn't be too soon. This is awful music. Saw it reviewed as some sort of Art Rock. Well it's terrible.

meh

I hit rock bottom listening to this noise 1 ⭐️

This could have easily been 1000 albums to listen to before you die. I did NOT have to listen to this album, which was in fact unlistenable. 0 stars

I’ll give credit where it’s due. This has a very specific vision. Unfortunately, that vision is a foggy jazz dream someone should’ve woken up from sooner. It goes nowhere, slowly. One spin was enough. I’m good. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Sea Song

Didn't really enjoy this much. Complex melodies, sometimes with jazz fusions. He's really not a very good singer, but I don't think that is focus. After the first few songs, the album gets pretty atmospheric, which some people might like. Still didn't do it for me.

im going fucking insane

This was probably the worst suggestion I’ve gotten so far. This album was absolutely garbage. Other than being bizarre, I can’t say anything else about it. Alife was when I stopped listening. I would give this album a 0 if the site would let me.

A few creative flourishes but really weird for the most part 3/10

Far too much noodling

not very enjoyable.

A bunch of goddamn noise with a British accent. Aptly named. Those English are so clever

A bit on the weird side but overall not too terrible.

Surprenant ! C’est weird comme j’aime.

When I read about this album, I thought "Here comes a cheery morning. An album created by a newly parapalegic drummer called 'Rock Bottom.'" Indeed I was right, at least about the cheeriness. But not exactly what I was expecting. This album sounds like Pink Floyd on acid. Or, since Pink Floyd was already on plenty of acid, like Pink Floyd on ayahuasca, and perhaps with worse song writer and not even a slight sense of groundedness. It's out there, and not really in a way that makes it super listenable, although there are moments. 2/5

A bit too art rock for my taste. I am not a big fan of the vocals and the music itself is nice but didn't really grab me. I can hear the Pink Floyd/ Nick Mason influence across the album, especially in "A Last Straw" withe the cymbal work over a synth and guitar. Wasn't my thing 2/5

Sorry you got drunk and fell out of a window, but I don't like your music.

3 for different reason than usual. Just unsure how I feel about it even after 2 listens. Need some more time with it. A little King Crimson, a lotta Genesis, but Genesis is not my personal favorite prog/art rock band. I'll go back to this one another day.

An intriguing bit of progstuffs, pleasant for a listen But I must be wrong because apparently right now this is the 20th lowest-rated album on the site... I don't know if I understand how that works, I've heard some boring, repetitive, generic things with less unique and soothing sound to offer than this Can they at least agree the last third of Sea Song is pretty?

Very strange record, but feels emotional and very cool sounds. Hard to believe this came out in 1974.

I was unfamiliar with Wyatt's oeuvre, or his story, before listening to this. I'm not sure any of it necessarily explains anything, though.

There's nothing worse than listening to someone who is clearly deeply talented and boundlessly creative make something you spend every second finding increasingly unpleasant.

what da hell

5/10

3.5/5

This album is horrible.

All I can figure is Rock Bottom made the 1001 Must Hear List because of the backwards singing on Little Red Robin Hood Hit The Road, the out of tune piano, the out of tune horns, the out of tune something squeaky (maybe a clarinet), and the weird gibberish lyrics. Oh, and Bobby’s a paraplegic. (1.1*s) a bit too artsy for me…

Robert Wyatt may have hit Rock Bottom falling out a 4 story building drunk and becoming a paraplegic. Even though most of this album was written prior to the injury on a trip to Venice, the recordings were after (partly in a van in a field) and turned out quite strange. Wyatt takes on a mythical warlock persona, spouting incantations and spells. Sounds like some parts are even recorded in reverse. I'm not sure how I feel about the album. It's weird and trippy but I'm not sure it's good. File this one under the odd ones from the list. Exposed to something new and strange at 1.75 stars.

This started out as something different and a little intriguing. Unfortunately the novelty wore off very quickly and it mostly devolved into somewhat obnoxious and drawn out noise. This kinda felt like a jazz musician informally warming up and experimenting without realizing it was being recorded for a release. Pretty weak when said and done. 1.23 stars

Got through 2 songs and turned it off

Ergens halverwege gaan er een groep zwanen dood

Just strange

The instrumentation is pretty good. The singing is pretty bad. Do I need to be on peyote for this?

Un dreamy delirante. Mucho disco conceptual en este recorrido. Debe ser el "EP" con temas más largos que escuché. Tiene algo re aristimuño, en particular el tema 4.

iemand dat een beetje alternatief wil doen

I love this album - there is something about the quavery voice and ponderous melodies that i think is amazing. i can see why some people would hate it though.

If there was ever a - I don’t know why this is on the list!! - it would be this album. Just blah.

A fever dream of an album. Not without it's merit, but this wasn't for me. 2 Stars.

Well see now I’m just confused on how this is considered music. It sounds like someone grabbed a kazoo from a cranium game and just slapped a record label on it. no thank you.

<my stream of consciousness notes during just the first track...> Well. All sympathy due to him while recording this [paralyzing accident] but those vocals on the first track "Sea Song" are something else - maybe borderline inexcusable. The music is great tho; early 70s Canterbury sound of mystery and almost a fantasy-English landscape. Just that hospital bed warbling what the actual.... <end> ....but...interestingly while moving on through the album .... this is one of the more weird ones we've had [that's a statement] not least of which because the longer this went on it became ... more compelling? To be clear - the initial wtf-ness of it doesn't vary and probably just increases. See also: Twin Peaks - Red Room ["Alife"]. Holy hell if I listen to this in a dark room at night it's gonna trigger something. Maybe it's like being entranced or under its spell for long enough that i'm like "...but yes *of course* he'd sing like that with these weird slightly demented and frightening woodland elf unstructured songs..." Radiohead have heard this album for sure ("Alife" ---> "The National Anthem"). I get the 1s and probably wouldn't play this for most (all?) friends but something about it got me and I'm giving a strong 3 because...well, because I wants to, precious. 7/10 3 stars.

I'm too dumb to understand this.

Terrible

Absolutely mad album

Better than you think it's going to be.

Amazing track flow and soundscape

Dissonant. Haunting. Pain. Sad. Beautiful nonetheless. Surprisingly epic. Eclectic. Sprawling

kind of spooky like a sailor on a boat at night creaky sounds but overall psychadelic and very nice to listen to

I know it’s an inspiring story about overcoming but the album still sucks.

Robert Wyatt sounds like a dehydrated water chestnut. The only thing saving this album from 1 star is that odyssey of a third song, which was inventive and very fun.

After reading this came out after Robert Wyatt got into a life altering accident, this album made more sense. As weird albums go it’s poignant, you can feel the discomfort of the artist. That being said, I didn’t enjoy it. I appreciate the art, but would not listen again

So weird, some noise on the first few songs that made me feel like I had tinnitus. Another song made me think of when Ross in Friends has his ‘sound.’ Overall, chaotic

Did not like. The music made my heart race and not in a good way.

Only listened to this once through but found the end of it quite self indulgent and hard to listen to.

an extremely unique album fusing jazz improvisations, folk instrumentation and a dark, foreboding atmosphere. it manages to pull this off excellently especially on "alifie". when it clicks, it clicks.

Piti kuunnella kahdesti koska albumi yllätti liiab positiivisesti

very short not really my jam

At first listen, I was driving and it annoyed the hell out of me. Tried again but didn’t get it. Gave it another chance. With headphones. So it’s definitely not for everyone. But it’s growing on me. But still, I don’t think I will be coming back to it. It has some nice prog, but so much noodling and meandering. I tried.

Actually better than I thought. Having only really heard Shipbuilding before, I knew of Robert Wyatt and his voice but this album is a bit more nuts in a good way. The music is good and some of the songs okay but there's a couple of gibberish songs that were just a bit odd.. I didn't hate it anyway and would listen again.

I listen to quite a bit of extreme and bizarre music, but I must admit, this one took a couple of listens. This was Robert Wyatt's first solo album after leaving Soft Machine, and also his first after becoming paralyzed from the waist down. The process of teaching himself a new way to write, perform and record music shows here, Rock Bottom sounds nothing like any of Wyatt's prior work, and frankly, I'm not sure that I have heard another album quite like this full stop. Rock Bottom is considered part of the Canterbury Scene, just from the lineup here, but it doesn't quite fit neatly into that sound. The only other music I can think of which is enjoyed in approximately the same way is some stuff by Coil, Comus, and to a lesser extent, Kid A by Radiohead (which is often cited as being the most noteworthy album to take inspiration from Rock Bottom). What does this sound like? It has some of the attributes associated with the aforementioned Canterbury Scene, but just feels different from prog at large. These songs are ethereal and sour complex, taking more from modal/free jazz than from prog, and featuring a mix populated both with more conventional rock instruments as well as synths, drones and other alternative instrumentation. I honestly think the first two tracks here may be the most challenging, although they are both very good nonetheless. Sea Song is a particularly bizarre love song to his wife (the similarly fascinating Alfreda Benge) and Robert's understated but intentional vocals move like a fairly conventional ballad at times. However, the song as a whole sways and stretches, the chord progressions always threatening to resolve, but seemingly never quite making it there. This is executed to great effect, feeling genuinely disorienting in a way that is really interesting. A Last Straw really shows off the jazz influence, as well as the incredible talent on this album: our lineup includes Mike Oldfield, Fred Frith, Laurie Allan, Soft Machine's very own Hugh Hopper, and more. These are largely scene legends, and the chemistry here is incredible (of note is also that Pink Floyd's Nick Mason produced this). These two songs are very good, while remaining utterly subsumed into Wyatt's world. But what is really noteworthy here is that, in my eyes, the remaining four songs are effectively perfect, while *still* refusing to dial back the strangeness here. Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road and Little Red Robin Hood Hit The Road seem to be sister songs. The former being devoured by a brass section and ending in a brief recitation of a poetry passage. The latter, closing out the album, doubles down on the poetry, as Wyatt allows Ivor Cutler and his beautiful harmonium playing to close the album out. Both are incredible songs. Between them, is, in my opinion, the album's greatest achievement: the suite of Alifib and Alifie, together forming the other gloriously weird love song to Wyatt's spouse on this album. For as abstract as these songs are, they resonate deeply with me. Alifib is a beautiful song, modality is heard at its most expressive, and we slowly build into the intensity of Alifie, which then ends with a passage by A;freda Benge (his wife) who puts a bow on everything and the cumulative statement is really beautiful. The most fascinating thing about these songs may be the lyrics: they are straight-up Dada poetry. Wyatt uses words and sounds non-representationally, just exploring them as ideas separate from the objects they are typically connected to, and it is done *very* well, sold with super dynamic delivery. I get if you don't like this, it is *truly* bizarre, especially if you don't really have any frame of reference for this at all. And even if you do, it is stubborn in the unfamiliarity of its content and execution, really resisting attempts to get into it. However, I would urge you to give it a shot, there is something really exciting and beautiful here. I don't know if this album is technically perfect, but what very few rough patches are here, I think I'm willing to overlook. This is rapidly growing on me, and I am willing to award bonus points for this quite possibly being the only album that feels and sounds like this ever recorded. It is a rare and beautiful beast, and I am willing to give it a 5.

This one's a joke, right?! Never heard of him and it's now obvious why. Thankfully it was short but this has no place on the T1001. I was shocked to see nearly 2M people have listened to the opening track, "Sea Song", dreadful song. 300-500K listens on the other 5 tracks, so not all that popular considering it's been out for 50 years. There's NO ONE on earth who could sit AND ENJOY "Alife" and it's awful horns and incessant piano banging. WTF? This sounds like a guy in his mom's basement laying down tracks he's had trapped in his brain. It's not musically sound, his voice is off kilter and not enjoyable, there's no glue in the song structure and if he's telling a story I ain't hearing it. Awful, terrible really, I'd give this one star just because I can't give it less. This should be removed and replaced by an album with more merit.

Not for me

Rock Bottom is the second solo album from Robert Wyatt. Wyatt was part of the British progressive music scene in 60s and early 70s as part of the bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole. After Matching Mole disbanded, Wyatt began working on a solo album. He suffered a tragic fall, and was left paralyzed. The album was recorded immediately after his recovery, and is seen as a reflection on his life and his change is circumstance. The album was produced by Pink Floyd's drummer, Nick Mason, and the influence is clear at points. These are keyboard-centered progressive rock songs, with rich orchestrations and rhythms, like the longer track titled "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road." There are two tracks with the same name, and the shorter version is not as interesting.

Interessant, gehört definitiv in diese Liste. Ziemlich düsteres Klangerlebnis. Toll, wie er seine Stimme einsetzt. Ist mir aber letztlich zu anstrengend zum öfter Hören.

this was the second Wyatt album on this list in a relatively short period. i definitely liked the other one more but this one wasn’t bad. it was probably more experimental which makes sense coming 2 decades before the other one. but i think it got a little TOO out there for me at times here. i’m struggling between 3 and 4 but i dont think he stuck the landing here so ill be satisfied with high 3

Previously rated: Shleep (2/5) *********************** More nonsense from this guy.

Artiste inconnu. Premier constat : le chant est vraiment désagréable, il gâche la partie instrumentale qui est plutôt intéressante et originale (+2). Et ce constat est le même sur chacun des morceaux (-1) ! C'est vraiment dommage ... =>2/5

Crap

You can tell it is made and produced by drummers. There seems to be a lack of melody where the songs are merely a collection of rythms. +1 for the novelty I guess 2/5

This is similar to the other album I had by him. It's obviously mad and all over the place, but I dig it. I like that he's putting this kind of thing out there. It's such a strange album - a real experience - a real mood. The vocals put me off at first, but they work with it. I like the spacey synths. I really like the 'Little Red' tracks. There's a mad, awkward cacophony of trumpets, but it creates such an interesting soundscape. There's all sorts of other shit going on in there. Music preferences are weird aren't they? An album like this by another artist might make me roll my eyes - or I'll be put off by another album doing quite similar things, and sitting in the same kind of space. I understand if other people hate it. I think it's delightfully weird and I celebrate it. 3.5 rounded up.

Interesting instrumentation, interesting backstory, but I found the vocals to be a bit grating and - given the quality of the instrumental parts - a bit unnecessary (although I know he had a lot to say). 2* vocals, 4* instrumentation, low 3* overall

Oh my god, this is so boring!

His second album. Experimental, Psychedelic Rock / Prog. He became paralysed halfway through making this album. This is an odd, psychedelic, whimsical album that could only come out of England. Gloriously weird in a way.

Too weird for me

Nice experience, did not hit quite as hard as shleep

Not as good, ass his, last,

A little to weird music wise for me. I couldn't finish a single song. Im sure it is for someone, but that person is not me.

My wife made fun of this album as we drove to hopefully our new home.

This was a tough album to listen to.. it isn’t traditionally “good”, that is to say this will never be popular to the mainstream, but it definitely has merit and value with a higher threshold for enjoyment. 2.5/5 but rounding down as I didn’t enjoy much and won’t listen again. Unfortunately this album suffers from the lack of partial stars

"art" "rock"

Emmmm, no. Wtf.

Day525 - props for being so strange i didn’t know what was coming next

Statler: “Boy, this thing sure had range” Waldrof: “Yeah, it ranged from pretentious to annoying!” Both: EHEHHAHEHAEHAAAEEHHEHA This joke was funnier in my head. 2/5

Good album, not sure why the average is so low

I'm kind of a sucker for this sort of music but this one isn't growing on me.

Who is this guy and why the hell have I been made to listen to multiple of his albums? Why does he have albums? Did no one in his life love him enough to pick a different hobby? Pottery or stamp collecting, perhaps, anything that doesn’t involve him singing!

Weird album but I actually liked it.

I have forgotten about this already. The only rock bottom that I want to see is from Dwayne Johnson

What the hell was that about??

Not really my type of music, but not absolutely terrible.

Some beats were good but this album didn't interest me.

Really beautiful and sad, but mixed with a sense of whimsy. It's cool how it's so experimental but in a very subtle and unobtrusive way.

Krasse Atmosphäre

ok

Too experimental, not my cup of tea

It was difficult at times with the deliberately discordant parts, but overall a nice listen to something a bit more experimental. Parts of it felt like it would fit with later Radiohead. I'd listen again and would check out what else he had

I found challenging to key into; I needed to step into listening as the first track progressed—moments of an almost estuary thom yorke. Interesting use of drone, experimental jazz was something you'd need to be in the mood for but I think I was today. Strong 3

At least it was short. This really doesn't go anywhere for me.

Uhhhhh…kind of ok shading into grating experimental noise that maybe could be ok if I was in the mood. I was not today. Still better than Kid Rock though.

Working class hymns, sensitive experimental folk backed by prog synths. The lyrics remind me of a different generation of London-er. It can be a touch one paced - although Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road gives it a nice uplift (twice). Unfortunately Alifib and Alife both lack a bit of direction and the experimental poetry across both didn’t work for me. There is a lot good about this record, but at one point I did want to kill the watermole 5/10

Enjoying Rock Bottom much more on a second listen. Love the nonsense rhymes, except they get a bit too repetitive. Some avantgarde jazz edginess here and there. Trance-like. Quite a lot of Mike Oldfield influence along with guitar parts. 7/10.

I have a lot of time for old English, poetry led folk music and also anything where people are trying to do something different. There were glimpses I enjoyed, but Wyatt did not win my trust over the course of the album. There’s a playful leap you need to make to be brought onside. I couldn’t get there because I’m not sure that he had fully figured the record out himself. It made me want to listen to early Pink Floyd!

Needs more listens, something like a dream with a significant core but a strange incoherence on first listen.

Suffered through it the first listen, decided to give it another shot. Slightly less intolerable the second time around, but overall an experiment gone wrong; boring and meandering.

Sea Song - Started out mellow, then mellow, then it ended mellow. A Last Straw - Angelic instrumental and vocal. The crossfade to the next song is immaculate omg. Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road - peak of the album. Alifib - chill session. Another crazy crossfade omg. Alife - The trumpet wen crazy on here. Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road - Beat switch is incredible. The first half is better than the second half but nonetheless incredible song. Album - 5/5

My rating system isn’t very scientific but, as a rule of thumb, three stars means I feel like I got something out of listening to an album but am unlikely to revisit it. Rock Bottom fits into that category - I don’t think it’ll be turning up in my Spotify Wrapped, but I am glad I heard this fascinating, challenging and haunting album.

For me, this album was a miss. The story behind it is lovely and empowering, but the music just didn't resonate.

And I again I say "What the fuck is even this?!"

Kinda of nice