Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I appreciated it as an experience and experiment. How does art move forward without pushing boundaries? However, not sure if I would return very readily.
Not for me, but surprised to see this came out in 1974 after listening to it
1.83
Rock bottom, indeed. Skip this one if you don't like meandering, maudlin, quasi-orchestral humdrum.
not really for me but some of it sounds very pretty
I was a little sus of "art rock", but I kind of enjoyed the instrumentals on this one. Maybe I just caught it at a good time. The vocals kinda blew though, easily took points off for that nonsense. 3*
Some interesting trippy instrumental aspects. Vocals mostly lost me
3.4
Couple of bangers in there. Especially the end of the last song, atonal with Scottish/Caribbean accent folk singer
If I didn’t know the backstory, this probably would have been a 2.5 rounded down. But it’s getting rounded up because I’m moved by Robert’s story.
I was introduced to this artist by a buddy at Grinnell, along with Robert’s predecessor band that I kinda liked, Soft Machine. This album came out after my stint at Grinnell, so I more knew his first album, The End of an Ear. I remember owning this album eventually. I sold a couple of his other albums on Discogs a few years back. It’s odd but generally likable stuff, kinda King Crimson-ish in spots. His first album was better. There’s another one in the 1,000 list we haven’t done yet from 1997 that I’ve never heard of.
One of the top reviews on this site says that if you hate this album, stop after one listen, but if you kiiiinda like it, listen again and see if it grows on you. That latter describes me well. I listened twice today and I think it’s a 3.5, but it has potential to keep going up. There’s something quite charming about the album. I especially liked Alife, with Sea Song and Robin Hood trailing just behind it.
It's at times like these where I wonder what justification the book has for this album. Seems pretty pointless, no? It's not particularly significant, it doesn't explore areas of music previously unchartered. It's just... not good... almost objectively.
No. Garbage. Probably one of the worst things I've listened to during this journey.
Not my style. While I appreciate the moving back story, and the review in the book adds respect for the musicianship, I’m still averse to the music itself. Noodly prog rock with no song structure to hold onto, atonal chords, and a less-than-stellar singer does not add up to much enjoyment for me, regardless of the peerage of the musicians or some interesting flourishes. A high 1.5
Not for me this
Wonderful, but I'll probably like it more after a couple more listens
It’s interesting. I don’t know if that means it’s good but it’s interesting
While most of the songs kind of meld together, I did enjoy the dark, weird, experimental nature of it. *~*~ think DRACULA'S LAMENT (Forgetting Sarah Marshall).
Felt like a mix between Bowie and Yes in a very experimental way
Apropos album title
I have an addiction to forcing myself to finish things that I don’t like, and this album is my "Rock Bottom"
Art rock is always so fascinating to me. One of THE most interesting genres to exist, has so much quirky stuff in each genre. Very solid
After helping to create one of the most greatest albums ever, Nick Mason assisted through producing this… a Scott Walkerst monotone rubbish album. This is why I don’t understand British people, like this postpunk, art rock stuff rubbish music is so uninspired and feels like a waste of space. Anyways, there are some good moments from the backing instruments so it’s not a 1/5.
I wish this album was worse because then my review could be, Rock Bottom? It certainly is. Instead it’s just bad. It’s interesting and I could see how it might be someone’s cup of tea. It sure ain’t mine though
Do you really want to listen to something like this? Well in this Song Sea Song there are nice beats and its very chill the piano is good so ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend it. Do you really want to music with nice beats? Well in this song A Last Straw its like jazz and it has very good instruments and its chill so ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.I recommend it. Do you really want to some song that has nice instruments and is chill? Well in this song Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road there are not that nice instruments in it but its chill ⭐⭐⭐. I kinda of recommend it.
Song: sea song this song is weird and creepy i never heard of this song before so i do not really like it if they made the beat and the music faster and not scary it would be good and if the person who is singing this makes is happier and like actually is singing it faster it would be much better Song : last straw this song is too slow and too like sad it makes me feel like have no energy so i would say it is weird and the singing does not match the song and the music is louder than the lyrics so i can barely hear the person singing i do not recommend this song and this album this much already Song: little red riding hood hit the road this song sounds a little harsh and it is kind of weird so i do not really recommend it and each song has the same beat and music and the music is always squeaky like the cant play it i do not recommend this album i would give this like a 1 star because it is very weird
I like the album cover. The music is not my favorite, but it is not bad.
Do you want to listen to some music that has nice beats? Well in Sea Song you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I highly recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of piano? Well in Last Straw you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of trumpet? Well in Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song.
I don't like this song it is boring and I don't like how he sings and it sounds weird . the second song was so boring I did not like it . I like the third one better because of the beat but he sounds weird
I don't like this because his voice is very scratchy and the instruments sound very weird. I would not recommend this to someone else because I don't think they would like it. I give this a solid 1 star.
I don't like it its not something I would like listen to and I don't like it the second song I don't like the third song I also hate
the first song was okay I guess it wasn't that good but it wasn't that bad. the second song was okay the beat was alr I don't rlly like it
the first song is good it sounds like it would be used in a Halloween movie and i really like how the instruments sound. the next song is also good i like how the instruments sound and i like how it sounds at the start. the last song is also kinda good i like the start and i like how it all sounds together. overall i kinda like this album i would recommend.
I really like this song called sea song this song has good drums and beats and the singer has the tone following the vibe to the song Last straw is a really good song becuase it has a catchy rythim and the song has choir with the singers voice very good Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road This song has a lot of music before the singer sings the song but the instruments are crazy good and he did this aat the hospital 5
Very strange album, I'm not sure what to make of it... Not really my thing
noises
Very weird, would like to listen again but have to say it didn't really appeal first couple of times listening. Enjoyed second half slightly more.
I liked the first song but it got worse after that. The songs were too long.
4/10 - this was a strange album to say the least. A lot of weird use of instruments that I didn’t love
What the florp
Rock bottom by name, rock bottom by nature. Never heard such rubbish. Who chooses this shite. Was the cover picked from a school prize draw... of 3 year olds.
Ok
What the hell even is this? This album makes no goddamn sense as music, but I can't even describe exactly what's wrong with it. I guess I certainly respect it, and I can't say it's bad, but… what
I would like to stop hearing albums by this guy now.
Bless his heart. Vibes of Pink Floyd and Radiohead. Thanks for sharing.
This is really not what I was expecting to hear from a 1974 album. I almost want to refuse to do any research on this. It just sounds like a dude having the time of his life in his studio. I love this. It’s experimental, it’s engaging, and it’s good. Nothing stands outs as the hit single but I don’t think it’s supposed to. This rules. Easy 5.
This album was surprisingly good. Very interesting and different, but I really enjoyed it all the way through and idk why. It's not something for every occasion, but it definitely has its place. I'm shocked that this was recorded in the 70s. The production was really interesting, especially when he reversed beats and added unusual effects onto the other instruments.
What a waste of time! 1/5
Took me a bit to figure out what I thought of the album, but honestly? Kinda rules. Love the weird jazz art-rock thing its got going on, but the first and last songs are pretty clearly the best. This is a real reverse bell curve, high to low and back to high. Probably not going to listen to it ever again, but I'm glad I heard it.
Fav: Sea Song Least Fav: Alife Hitting rock bottom never sounded so good, cos wtf this greatly exceeded my expectations
Nothing but respect to Robert Wyatt for finishing this record after becoming paralyzed - really happy for him that he overcame the odds and created the album that he wanted to make. As to the album itself... "noodling nonsense", as another reviewer put it, seems apt. I personally would have tried to tell Nick Mason to lay off the psychedelics in the studio just a tad
Not melodic enough to be pleasant or enjoyable. Not rythmic enough to be enticing, not psychedelic enough to be enlightening or concious. Certainly not experimental and progressive enough to be unique or stand out from the lot of 70s contemporary. Not artistic enough to be avant garde and definitely not good. A swirling soup of sounds with an occasional shred of talent and genius lost to the scalding broth. I haven't read a convicing case as to why this album belongs here.
Rock Bottom is right. Who is listening to this more than once? It’s lukewarm garbage.
It’s like someone just sang and then found random music to put underneath.
A little too aharmonic for me
sounds and noise
Not sure this is music.
Hmmm
interesting, not good
A kind of interesting mess is the best I've got here. It's doesn't have a ton of structure but there are some really interesting ideas deep down in there. I'm not opposed to working for it but I don't really want to put the work in for this if you know what I mean? I do enjoy the sort of half gibberish but half English, at least enough to make it feel unsettling, lyrical thing here. After the album finished I got an auto play of Signed Curtain and I let it play just to hear anything else this guy did and he just sings this is the verse and then here is the chorus and so on just explaining his process. That's cool. So maybe I'll be excited to get another one of his on here or just go digging on my own. I was gonna give this a 2 because it's so messy but I'm so intrigued by this guy it's getting an extra point. Maybe it deserves it maybe it doesn't. We'll the final leg of the final song was great by the way. It's of the sea in the best way. I really liked that and if he's got more of that I'm so so sooo down
Wow! What a brilliant record. A real precursor to Richard Dawson and the stuff he's been doing the past 20 years. Absurd and fun. The real 'hell yeah' moment here was realizing that Life Without Buildings reference tracks from this album multiple times on their near-perfect album "Any Other City" ("I like you mostly late at night, hotel hotel hotel!" and the whole "eyes like lotus leafs" refrain borrows from the last track on here). Awesome!
'When you're drunk you're terrific / When you're drunk / I like you mostly late at night.' Wyatt appears to run the gamut of reality but unfortunately picks up nothing along the way, so that while he ranges from the realist to the fantastical, neither perspective is ever effectively expressed. There're moments of musical ingenuity, specifically Wyatt's vocal abstractions on 'A Last Straw' and the horns on 'Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road,' but it is often too technical or too weird to be moving or persuasive. I don't think Wyatt is insincere, and he's not going out of his way to be obscure or off the beaten track, but too much of 'We'll not grow fat / the mammary gland' leaves me wanting more in the way of vigor and less in the way of languor.
Zero if I could
So so
This one has been my last favorite so far... Maybe if I was British I would like it more? Or if I was alive in the 70s. I can really imagine liking it if I was more familiar with the artist and his story. I respect him and the mix is actually very nice, but I found myself wanting to skip every song. I typically don't dig the trippy kind of avant garde albums, kind of reminds me of the David Bowie 2016 album.
Somewhat relaxing album. I liked the horns from the "little red riding hood hit the road". Those Alfie songs were very bizarre for my taste. Not something I plan to ever listen to again but I could imagine people liking it.
This is nice. As with the other album from him, there are some deeply beautiful moments mixed into a somewhat scattered whole.
I thought it was good.
This is PURE GOLD, never discovered him until just recently. Now I can't hear enough
A very surreal and unique sound but I enjoyed it. 4 stars
I had to turn it off halfway because it got on my nerves.
I reflect on the life of the highway man... yum yum
Meh
Blegh
I love finding these marginal musical figures who never had and never would’ve come into ears but for the oddly catholic-like guilt I seem to owe to these daily listens. Wyatt is melancholy beauty and fiercely purposeful difference that I really enjoyed and that contains multitudes more than most pap pop or billion listen new country. Give me more…
I tried. I’m out.
Not bad, but very 'art piece'.
5/5. So this is the second Robert Wyatt album on this list and it's weird because I had an idea of what I was getting into. This felt more reminiscent of progressive rock like Genesis mixed with alternative art rock like Radiohead. I did realize that jazz was also involved when looking through the production notes. That fact that Pink Floyd were involved as well is not surprising. It sounds like a mixture of modern issues along with old Canterbury phrases, it's hard to describe but it fits the term "hauntingly beautiful." It starts off unsteady and I was glad I stuck around, this was such a unique one, going to be a repeated listen for sure. Best Song: Sea Song, Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road, Alifib
Dit is heel zweverige muziek. Klinkt in het begin nog wel grappig, maar gaat helaas snel vervelen. Misschien iets met hippies en veel blowen? **
Very weird album with a cool backstory. It's like jazz-fusion, but it only takes the odd instrumentation choices from prog, and the more ambient, strange soundscapes from experimental jazz. Only three stars because his voice is just not good, even though I understand that the whole "childlike" singing was intentional. 3.0/5.0: Good
enjoyed this one way more than the other album by him on the list
Man... I tried. I really did! Big Pink Floyd fan and can appreciate Nick mason's production value, but.. it is just all over the place. Sorry
First song I actually didn't mind but I did not enjoy the rest.
Albums that make me question the critical thinking of the authors of this book. Aboslute horseshit album. Too bad I cant rate it zero stars
The first song of the album started pretty well and then about a third of the way in, things got a bit weird with the melody, so I would understand if this is used as background music for a movie. The third song is just all over the place - just crazy sounds, which you could call "playing out" when the jazz band just makes sounds but... no. Overall, not a very pleasant experience, especially when you're trying to listen to this while working, for example, and things are a bit stressed out already - the third track just makes things so much more intense than they actually are.
Very boring
Dreary
I liked the chill vibes, but very eccentric lyrics and interesting vocal additions.
After his accident, Robert Wyatt seems to have slipped into being something of a subculture icon, occasionally breaking into popular view. His first post-accident album doesn't really tick the boxes for me, though at limes it seems to exude a very English style.
Odd, disconnected noise. I didn't disdain it, but it didn't do much for me.
this was confusing but not in an entertaining way
an accurately titled album. I understand wanting to stand out and present how different you are, but this is just Revolution No 9 cranked to 11. mashing keyboard keys and playing sections in reverse, for what? How quirky. Dumb, lame, and stupid.
Fuuuuuck off with shit like this. Truly the Rock Bottom for this list. At least the other 1 star albums don’t take themselves so seriously and present themselves with so much self importance. Awful
It was interesting... There was something in there that was really good, but it was a little hard to find underneath the rest of it. Voice was good, made me feel something.
First time hearing. This you definitely have to be in the mood but if you are it's pretty cool. Top notch 70s British hippie psych. Not sure what I can really compare it to but it is very much of its time. People don't make music like this anymore. Mostly that's actually a good thing if I'm honest, but when people do this well, it's really cool.
Ugh. *Another* Robert Wyatt album??? How disappointing. At least it's from his earlier--and presumably more musically active--era, and at least it's much more distinctive and downright weird at times (compared to "Shleep"), but ultimately it's not really any more interesting or particularly entertaining, at least to my unappreciative ears (although I did enjoy parts of both of the "Red riding hood" tracks). I *do* feel badly for him that the album was recorded not long after a horrible (and sadly very drunken) accident that left him a paraplegic (and oddly coinciding with his partner's work on the excellent 1973 film "Don't Look Now"). But this was a chore to endure the thankfully-brief 40 minutes or so on this album.
I looked up this album to see if there was a good reason it's part of this project and learned it's Wyatt's first album after a horrible accident rendered him paraplegic. This is awful but isn't a compelling reason for this album to be on this list. Is there a musical or artistic reason for this album to be on this list? Anyone?
No me dio mas
What even is this??
Very strange albums with a lot of cool ideas at play. Difficult listen, very challenging and fatiguing at times but something truly unique.
One of the biggest discrepancy between quality of music and singing on this list so far (which means a lot, because it's album no. 1000). I liked the instrumental parts, a fresh look at the jazz genre, very interesting bits. I couldn't focus on that though, because Robert, or whoever was singing, spoiled that experience. This is how I imagine myself sound when singing, which is one of the worst thing you can say to an artist. Good intentions, terrible output.
A little out there for me...
Not for me
Mild music. I liked it. Stand-out: Alifib
Just a little weird. Musically it was okay, but I didn't enjoy the vibe at all.
I would really rather listen to this after I am dead, thanks. 1 star or F-.
I understand that if you have done enough drugs this might be considered music
Really interesting, kind of anxiety inducing
Very odd on first listen I think it’s worth another go but not what I’d call a classic!
At first this sounded like a cracked out muppet singing in the shower. Then something clicked. It’s still weird, it’s still pretentious. The atmosphere alone has left me thinking about this long after its run time ended. Listened 3 times and plan to again eventually.
I think I’d rather get a tooth pulled without anesthetic than have to listen to this again. At least then I’d get something out of it.
This was pretty bad
0.0 — total dogshit
I didn't hate the songs, but I hated the sound mixing. Everything sounded grating to me, none of the instrumentation blended together at all and the levels for just about everything seemed off to me.
Just no.
OK.
אה
כאילו שמו לי אם די במים כן מעריך את המוזיקליות ואת הצורה שבה האלבום בנוי
מאוד מוזר הפעם יש חלקים טובים אבל יש רוב של חלקים רעים הסולן נשמע כמו הביטלס ברוורס הכלי נשיפה נשמעים כמו תינוק שנשכח בבניין בוער אבל זה מקבל 2 נטו בגלל כמה שצחקתי
I can see how it would be an influential album, but it didn’t seem groundbreaking enough to be in the top 1001 albums of all time.
Funny how he called the second song “last straw” because it was when I decided I didn’t like the album!
love this experimental style of sounds, especially the filter they put on the vocals in Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road that give them this almost rewinding effect. the instrumental is so beautiful, almost classical like. They remind me of some weird traditional baroc or english folk music, which I really like. Alifib is so good. Definitely above 4 and probably close to 4.5.
This album is thankfully short, but unfortunately not short enough. I don't see how this is an album I HAD to listen to before I died because it made me feel psychotic while listening to it. Would not recommend.
What is Arnold Schwarzenegger yapping about in that last song?
Fantastic album. I loved A Last Straw. Took me on a new journey and evoked some strong feelings. Felt experimental in a curious way. Will definitely listen to again.
The many 5 star reviews made me double check that I listened to the right album. Really? Most aptly-titled album on this list.
Two drummers making crap without drums.
I was into it. The melodies are lovely and meandering, and lend a very cool overall vibe to the sound. The songs all blend into each other in a way that makes this very much an album that rewards listening to it straight through.
This is rock bottom
Aptly named album
Very pleased to see that the list includes Robert Wyatt, a man who didn't let debilitating physical paralysis stop his art. While I prefer his early Soft Machine stuff and his music with Matching Mole, I admire most his fearless embrace of artistic expression, even if it's "weird". This record sends relentless waves of weirdness! Nevertheless, the more you listen to it, the more you can withstand the waves and start to recognize the beauty at the bottom of it all.
Sometimes you learn things when you get an album. This time I learned who Robert Wyatt was... not surprised that he is a British artist (the project tends to be heavily weighted toward the Brits)... and read about his interesting life story. A curious album, the title Rock Bottom makes sense when you learn that a year prior to the recording of this album he suffered an accident that left him a paraplegic and unable to play his main instrument of the drums. He took on other instruments and went solo after this and seems to have had a fascinating career.
Is nice?
Yeah, i didnt get anywhere near this. It probably me as i couldnt give it much attention but it was pretty impenetrable.
Rock Bottom indeed... Dire.
"Rock Bottom" is one of those albums that I secretly love but would never play it got anyone else. It's obviously quite niche but it's one of those weird and wonderful albums that's really interesting to listen to. The title suggests that it was inspired by the accident that made Wyatt a paraplegic shortly before it was recorded. He was very vocal about how it changed his outlook on life and forced him to slow down from his early rock star days. If you knew nothing else about this album, you might expect a record of soft rock ballads. Instead, Wyatt is extremely subversive here, turning the concept of rock-jazz fusion on its head. This is proto-indie rock with a strong undercurrent of jazz techniques underlining it all. The result is bizarre and unsettling. It feels like being lost at sea, with delirious and happy memories of cultures left behind. I guess that won't appeal to everyone but I can't stop listening to this wonderful oddity.
Dude likes to moan
Blind album and artist. Rock bottom is nit accurate. It's more like a 2 for me. Close, but not the bottom.
This is dumb
This was a challenging listen at first, it actually reminded me a lot of my struggles with Coltrane's A Love Supreme. But, like that album, the more I listened to it, the more it fell into place. These abstract albums are so different from 95% of this list because their song structures are way more fluid. Time signatures all over the place, each instrument doing its own thing that circles the themes of the pieces. And the more you let go trying to make sense of it, the better it sounds. Now I didn't like this as much as A Love Supreme, but it was pretty interesting by the end. If I have a favorite, it's probably the first Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road, Alife, or Sea Song.
It’s interesting, but I can’t say that I really enjoyed this. As a project, there’s something very compelling here. The second half sounds like the inside of a coma patient’s brain. Its structure and composition are kind of fascinating. As another reviewer pointed out, there’s some evidence of influence on Radiohead. Alife is a good example. It’s good, but hard to listen to.
I do see the Radiohead comparisons but I’m genuinely baffled by this album. It just doesn’t work for me. I don’t like his voice. The music doesn’t hang together and the surrealist elements (hello Ivor Cutler) don’t do anything for me either. 2 because it’s not unlistenable and there are glimmers of something good
What in the name of the wee man is this?
Think it has to be a 1 or a 5, doesn't it?
I recently got Soft Machine's Third, so, being that this guy is in that band, it comes as no surprise that this is terrible.
It’s not terrible, but it’s not great either.
People like this?
Just as strange as the other one
Echt raar, geen pijl op te trekken. Niet per sé slecht, maar goed is het ook niet.
Uhhh, this kind of album makes me wonder who the hell the critics are that decided this makes the cut. This was weird. I feel like the genre was experimental and in my opinion the experiment failed. I have never said “what the fuck and i listening to” more than in the 39 minutes of the album. The one good song was the first 4 minutes of Alafib and then Wyatt opens his mouth and ruined it. This album was nails on a chalkboard turned into music, between his voice and the instruments that sounded like birds dying, this was just not for me and I don’t know how it’s for anyone else. Would give 0 stars if I could.
In some ways, this seems like just the kind of thing that would appeal to me - and parts of it did, in its weirder, more experimental moments - but it failed to fully connect. I didn’t dislike it, though, and being as unique as it is means it won’t get lower than a 3. 3.5?
Moments that resonated with me on this one, where Wyatt is crafting soundscapes that are genuinely unique and a pleasure to listen to. Unfortunately most of these moments are then met with odd choices that derail my overall enjoyment
Definitely seemed more interesting on first listen Still good, some really good interesting bits of songs thrown together. Not sure it's hits the level or anything Floyd but so much better than that Syd album Ok
Extraordinarily avant-garde for the time - in this record alone you can hear blossoms of sounds perfected a decade later by artists like Talk Talk and Kate Bush. The Pink Floyd-ness from Nick Mason's production also hits you in the face throughout. For me, the vocals are too wobbly, too nonsensical and too high in the mix for me to return to this album. Best Tracks: - Sea Song - Alifib Worst Tracks: - Alife - Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road Rating: 4.5/10
Do I love all of the music here? Not really. (…but just as an aside, track 3 really kind of feels like something Radiohead would draw inspiration from) Is Robert Wyatt’s story a truly inspirational testament to overcoming great tragedy? Absolutely.
Very different and his influence on other musicians amazed me. Wiki page interesting. May give it another go.
Bizarre stuff. A conglomeration of sounds with some absolute nonsense lyrics overlaid. Some of the overlaid tracks sound like they're being played backward to no decipherable effect and some are just... breathing.
Wow this really is rock bottom, more like Robert why did you make this album. This feels like if revolution 9 was an album, musically it’s actually pretty good in parts, especially alifib and alife despite his annoying breathing throughout the entire song in the former, but this album feels like a mess, I have to give him credit for the circumstances of his spinal injury and his voice isn’t too annoying but the lyrics feel like an alien trying to speak english most of the time. 2 stars mainly because it actually hooked me a bit musically
This is pretty far out there. Progressive rock meets jazz fusion meets British folk. This has some moments, but overall it's just ok for what it is. Probably not something I would seek out again.
meh
Obviously creative and the result of considerable skill. It’s not uncompelling, but I have to concede that overall I don’t get it.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect with this album. None of the tracks stood out to me, and I couldn’t find one that I truly enjoyed. I’m honestly baffled by its inclusion in the Top 1001 Albums of All Time list. While I can understand that musical tastes are subjective, this album didn’t resonate with me on any level, and it didn’t offer much in terms of innovation or lasting impact. It left me wondering what made it so highly regarded.
I’m not sure what surprises me more. The fact that this artist was able to discover the sound of screaming hot aggressive gonorrhea being poured into your ears, then record it and release it as an album, or that someone heard this cacophony of horrible noise and decided it belonged on this list for other people to be tortured by. I would rate -5 stars if possible as I feel I am owed them back for having been subjected to this caterwauling
lixo
Appreciate the effort but even though I was primed to love this by the book Blurb is just totally didn’t. Weird weird stuff, kinda actually bad singing… I just couldn’t get into this.
Another album that would probably benefit from the use of mind-altering drugs...
Genuinely painful
Fragezeichenmusik
Forgot about every single thing that happened here soon as it was over
Another unknown album. It was ok.
Art rock is a tough one for me. I like when artists push boundaries but I also like listening to enjoyable music. There are quite a few moments here that remind me Pink Floyd (both 60’s era and 70’s era like Dogs) and Radiohead and there are moments that are a slog.
It's an album that makes you think. Mostly thinking that I want to listen to Fröken Snusk instead. I save my 1* for albums that are needlessly shit. This isn't that because I don't think this lad can do any better but a 2 is generous.
wtf did I just listen to? psy-jazz?
Sounds like lads high in a studio making shit. Some moments you think 'oh this could be something', then they honk a bicycle horn off key.
Horrible vocals. Did not care for the music. Perfect title.
Rock bottom is listening to this album through to the end. This guy's voice is best suited for silent mic karaoke. My toddlers have written better melodies on their Fisher Price xylophone, which is the instrument I'm pretty sure was used in the recording of this album. That and ballon rubber. I surrender, just make it stop. 1/5 because 0/5 isn't an option.
"I feel music should make you happy, make you relaxed, pump you up, make you think, make you inspired. I feel music shouldn't make you feel anxious, on edge and angry, which is what this album did to me. Ross from Friends on keyboards with a guy off the street singing over it. The good thing about listening to 1001 albums is that there are the odd person/group that I have never ever heard of. There's a good reason I haven't heard of Robert Wyatt or Rock Bottom, the album is horrendous. I read more about him and his history and ending up in a wheelchair is not an excuse for releasing crap music. The equivalent of a monkey throwing faeces at a canvas and calling it art. "
Oh mein Gott. Langweiliger geht überhaupt nicht. Mist!
Love the music, could do without the vocals
this list has hit Rock Bottom, three 1 star albums in a row must power through, better music ahead
Well, this was interesting to say the least. I enjoyed the album, it has unusual lyrics and instrument combinations, pretty much anything you hear is unexpected. But, even considering this, and this is one ohe things that I enjoyed most about the album, it still manages to convey an atmosphere and emotion it intends too. Also, this is pretty impressive considering when it came out.
Different
It's weird in a "noise" way at times, which I hated, but it was also weird in a chill way occasionally, so it's not full hate. I didn't get anything out of it, but maybe it matters to to the art rock crowd.
Je comprends pourquoi cet album est tellement polarisant, mais dans mon cas ça a été une expérience très positive. Ce n'est pas tellement un album axé sur la complexité de la musique plus que sur l'ambiance que ça crée. Un super bel amalgame de art rock/progressif/ambiant/psychédélique. Bien que la première chanson je m'a pas tellement mis en confiance, le reste de l'album est super bon. Définitivement plus aimé que Shleep. 9/10
Screechy, twaddly nonsense.
Vocals were meh music was also meh not terrible but a one and done listen
Wow, that was pretty damn bad!
Strange, delicate, but good. Deserves more exploration.
Drömlikt album. Här finns allt från rock till avant garde jazz
2.75
Musically it is fine, I like the unique experimental and sparse sound...but the vocals really are unlistenable. Both tuneless and emotionally unaffecting.
Very slow quite quiet not too much happened. Two or three.
I get it, but not for me
Paraplegic ex-drummer. Experimental, instrumental, delicate. Not the best voice. Assume this was done to cope. Borders on noise at times. A chore to listen to, but that might be the point as he is suffering.
Nit nit ni nit foley baloley
I found this extraordinarily difficult to listen to. Not at all my cup of tea.
With a heavy story to tell, Robert Wyatt got real weird with this album. I can't imagine what it's like to lose access to your instrument, let alone your legs. It carries a lot of meaning in its exploration, and stands out as a piece of art.
Aimless and chaotic in a bad way.
Sounds like David Bowie and his Music sometimes. Had a hard time focusing on the start of the album, because two men happened to walk the same way as me on my way home.
I’m hearing a Beatles and Frank Zappa influence with this guy. I’m also hearing vocals that are too low and word salad being thrown at my ears. It’s a jumbled mess of music and vocals. I can’t find anything positive out of it other than it isn’t a complete waste of my time….but almost
Rock Bottom is right. It can’t get worse.
Ich hatte große Erwartungen, die Vorberichte versprachen einiges. Leider hat es bei mir nicht funktioniert. Es gab durchaus wunderbare Harmonien, aber insgesamt hat es nicht gefunkt. Insgesamt zogen sich die Songs.
Challenging! Not for me! All the parts of weird music that I dislike stirred up into one stew, with none of the parts of weird music that I *do* like to provide relief.
this is kinda like the nick cave post son's death trilogy album in that you can easily see it was a working through stuff project for him, but it definitely has a feeling of not being for anyone else as a result
I started cleaning a little while after I put this on because I had a feeling it was going to be a struggle to get through. It mostly worked, because when I got tired of cleaning and sat down it all became instantly more difficult to tolerate.
2 minutes in and it already feels like forever some wanker even compares it with kid a but this shit really makes me suck a lemon 1/5
Apparently the dude was in a bad accident right before he made the album and the album is a champion of overcoming struggle and the first platinum album from a paraplegic. But it sounds like an album that was made by a paraplegic. "Sea Song" feels like he was recreating the accident that paralyzed him.
This is totally not what I was expecting. But I'm fine, I bet I subscribe to this challenge exactly to get this type of stuff, so I'm good with it.
I thought that maybe I'd be into this one since I'm into some weird music and I can be pretty forgiving of out of tune vocals but the prolonged dissonance was just a bit too much for me to really enjoy this. It was very melancholy and kind of slow. I appreciated the proggines of it and there was some pretty interesting things happening but I don't feel like this needed to be in this list.
Very interesting album. I liked the avant-garde nature of it. Really interesting sounds and cool horns. The lyrics are kind of whacky and all over the place. I'm not really sure who the audience for this album is, but it was cool that he made this!
unlistenable. i'm normally a big lover of folk music but i find his voice and lyrics so grating and uninspired i wanna throw myself into a wall. boo.
One of the more interesting discoveries on the list. Immersive and otherworldly but drags after the stellar Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road.
Not going to lie, I *really* struggled with the first track. But I ended up digging quite a bit of it.
song one was a man with a piano, and a ??theramin?? just singing his heart out. This is what music should be, it's a bit too psychadelic for my liking, but the parts where it's less him going off on a "musical" tangent are lyrically well done. Then it went downhill quick, like real quick, everything after that was what I assume doing drugs feels like... I have this rating system setout in my head, 1 is never gonna listen to again, 2 is i'd rather not listen to again, 3 is indifference, 4 is will likely listen to again, 5 is will listen again, one of my favourites. and I can't decide, i'm glad to have listened to it, but i'm not sure I could stomach it again.
Sorry this is trash. Nothing enjoyable about this at all. Not rock bottom on this list but came close. I’ll still give it a two as opposed to a 1. At least it sounded like he tried.
Dogshit- fitting name for the album
What a weird album. Like, it feels amateurish but wildly complex in the decisions that were made. It's something I will have to listen to again later. But so odd. And that comes from a genuine Mr. Bungle fan.
Some cool jammy moments, but they’re few and far between
Wannabe Pink Floyd
Instrumentals were fine, only to be ruining by the singing.
Huh. I imagine this is a close to classical as we'll get, besides the jazz albums. Compelling, in its way!
Kinda cool, reminds me of Viv
enjoyably annoying nonsense
Meh - a few too many mind altering drugs consumed by these guys. Interesting, but would not listen again.
Well it has instruments I’ve never heard before. Otherwise eh
Idk why this is here
Decent sound, nonsensical lyrics
Some fun experimental bits throughout. But man, these vocals are not good.
Profoundly bizarre. I weirdly liked the last track with the repeating weird Scotsman
I don’t get this? I remember liking another one of his on the list, but this was a little too experimental without any substance for me. Maybe it’d hit differently after a few more listens, but you know what? There is way too much good music out there for me to do that.
The best part of the album is that it is less than 40 minutes.
I don't get blues scatting, I don't get it even more when it isn't harmonious. Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road #1...was she on LSD? Alife turned into some weird folk cult chant where an animal was being sacrificed. Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road #2...The end was okay, but it was like three songs mixed together. But then the lyrics those just went way way left.
He doesn't sing very well and none of the musicians play their instruments that great although I appreciate that he's got strings, keys, horns... all of it, but none of it really works together in a "good song" kind of way. I'm not sure I understand the narrative of the songs and things often seem to build to an rambling chaos rather than any kind of cohesive climax. It's different in ways that are not really that creative but more like annoying and I wish he'd stop doing that. But I didn't feel it was quite as excruciating as others in my listening group.
I imagine this is what hitting rock bottom sounds like musically, so I guess if that's what the concept was, kudos. But this was almost unlistenable to me.
Mid 70s prog rock fans went two ways...either to Genesis/Yes/ELP or to groups like Soft Machine. This is good music, but not as good as early Genesis.
Love me some Canterbury Scene.
Albumi #129, 09.12.2024 Robert Wyattin toinen albumi. Albumin on tuottanut Pink Floyd rumpali Nick Mason. Albumi nauhoitettiin vaikeissa oloissa vuonna 1973 Wyattille sattuneen onnettomuuden jälkeen, jossa hän halvaantui pudottuaan neljännen kerroksen ikkunasta. Musiikillisesti albumi edustaa melko puhdaslinjaista taiderockia.
Très compliqué celui-là. Je peux comprendre qu’on s’y attache, il peut parler à certaines personnes, mais il est quand même âpre et peu confortable à l’écoute. Il a influencé pas mal de choses derrière, tellement il pousse loin certaines expérimentations. Radiohead a dû écouter cet album avant de faire Kid A, par exemple. J’y reviendrai peut-être un jour. Mais je vais le laisser tranquille dans son coin quelque temps.
I don't blame Robert Wyatt for making this album full of noodling nonsense. I blame the project for including this album - so many other good experimental works came out in 1974 that could have been included instead of this one. Weather Report Mysterious Traveller would be a good choice! 1⭐️
Terrible. How this appears on a list of the 1001 to listen to, is sure an error.
Track 1 feels like a fake David Bowie song but the album soon becomes a straight instrumental album. I loved the instrumental songs. The vocals would hold the album down especially when they were so grating. Like Alfie is an insufferable song for that reason and the vocals heavy ones are the ones I’d skip.
I think it’s absurd to have two albums by this guy on this list. I guess you had to be there.
Þessi plata sat ekki vel í mér. Hún virtist alveg tónlistarlega fín en það var eitthvað við þetta bullmál og sönginn sem fór vel ofan í mig. Eins og það væri verið að spila sönginn aftur á bak. Þetta virkaði bara ekki.
Favourite track: Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road.
I think I need a better sound system to fully appreciate this album. But some really gorgeous stuff nonetheless.
Huh. That was... interesting. This is the first album in the bottom 20 of this website that I've gotten in a while. The last one I got was The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by the (not so) Incredible String Band back in June. Because of the low rating, I was a bit worried for this album, but the album's also rated relatively high on Rate Your Music, so I went into Rock Bottom with an open mind. Fortunately, I think that paid off. This album isn't that bad! Don't get me wrong. I don't love the album, and I can see why people dislike it. This album isn't for everyone. However, for what it's worth, I think this is a decent album. The sound is odd, but not painful to listen to. I wouldn't even call it unpleasant. I'd just say that it's a bit unorthodox. The singing is also strange, but not the worst singing I've ever heard. I think one of the biggest reasons why I don't hate this album is that it's actually a good length with decent pacing. Too many albums just go on and on for way too long. This album is not one of them. It's a clean 39 minutes and it works. Overall, this isn't my favorite album ever, but I respect it and enjoyed it enough to call myself a defender of this album. It's okay in my eyes. It's not something I see myself going back to though. Low 3/5.
November 24, 2024 Okay, it’s a little notorious in this lil online community, but I gave Shleep a 3 and Soft Machine a 4, so I’m not too worried Update: this is a special record I can see how the spaciness and jazz excursions will lose some listeners, but there’s also many gentle, beautiful moments. I’m honestly surprised it ranks lower than the other Wyatts There is a certain fretful, chaotic mood that surfaces, for instance in “Red Riding Hood”, where I hope that nobody tried listening to this on psychedelics This, along with The Incredible String Band is some folky nonsense that hits a niche I never knew I wanted or needed. Thanks Britain 👍
🎧Madman Robert Wyatt strikes again. I got a question for Dimery: Why does the book include so much of this guy’s weird shit but doesn’t make room for slightly less weird but much better shit like Stormcock by Roy Harper? Favorite track: Sea Song
1/5 terrible
Good
I'm going to look at the percentage of 70's albums to total here... it seems like my algorithm is stuck in that decade. Yup, 29% from that decade with the next closest, the 90's, at 20%. But that's cool, no hate to the post-hippie, pre-metal age at all. Except for this album. It went on the audio equivalent of my DNF reading list. After learning that this was created and released after the artist had a tragic accident resulting in paralysis, I am empathetic to his \"Rock Bottom\" era but still struggled to listen.
like... why??
Since today, December 3rd, is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I can't rate it lower than a 2, even though it was quite disappointing.
I had another Robert Wyatt album a few days ago and hated it, but with this one it suddenly just clicked, and reading his backstory (he's been wheelchair-bound following an accident in the 70s) made his music all the more interesting. This album works on another level. The music is incredible, one of the few prog rock albums that actually worked, but his voice, which I found jarring at first, is what really sets it off; a child throwing a ball at a wall of sound.
The title is apt; this may be the rock bottom of this list. It's not good and it's not even particularly unique or interesting, just pretentious and boring.
This album made zero sense to me. Did not like one second of it.
As with most Prog rock, it's very hit or miss. I thought this album started off alright but fell off as it kept going. This wasn't a case of trying to do too much but rather, not having enough there to begin with. Not the worst album we've gotten but definitely in the lower half
Terrible.
Well that was interesting. Wasn't expecting art rock here. But it was enjoyable. Odd, but enjoyable.
Just a lot of noises.
Really not my thing.
loved it, ethereal and dreamy
Nope!
No.
I can't believe this is rated higher than The Incredible String Band on this site. To me they're almost opposite sides of a coin. They both have a weird, avant-garde style, but where The Incredible String Band does this in a pleasant and fun way, this is just boring, repetitive, and off-putting. I can even appreciate weird for weird sake, but this isn't even that. It's like it's trying too hard to be innovative and just became a big mess. I really wanted to like this at least somewhat, but the album got worse as it went along. Even with other bad albums I can hear its influence in later works or some fresh concept or creativity, but not this. I appreciate the story of Robert Wyatt in how this album evolved from before and after his accident, but that's the only positive thing I can say about it. This album just isn't good. At all.
It's deeply weird - strange droning music, backwards singing, imitations of trumpet noises, even at one point what sounds to me like some kind of Dracula impersonation - but feels less "fun" than other weird albums I've enjoyed. Still, by the second listen I began to warm up to it somewhat. Worthwhile if you like experimental stuff.
UMA MERDA SEM TAMANHO, E NEM BEBADO ESSA MERDA DESCE
I think this album needs more than 1 listen through to get into it. I
Insufrible. Y eso que son menos de 40 minutos. Soy alguien que le gusta la música experimental, ambient, bandas sonoras y mil cosas raras, pero esto me supera.
No thanks!
I actually liked this well enough. It just doesn't seem "complete", almost like a lo-fi demo. That adds charm, but also means the whole thing kinda blends together.
Sounds like I’m at an open mic and that’s not a good thing
Madness and Pain and Beauty. As important for what it is as the story behind it.
I appreciated that it was incentive, but nothing about it grabbed me.
I had a feeling that there was more here than I had the ears for
On first listen, the album sounded overly artsy and a bit silly to me. I kept listening a few more times and suddenly realised the pain in the music. "Rock Bottom" is such a strong title given the circumstances surrounding its creation. Glad I gave the album a real shot, as this could have been a quick dismissal if it hadn't been for a friend's strong recommendation.
I’m not trying to censor, but mankind would benefit from this being wiped off the earth and never heard from again. Utter chaos and does not qualify as music as far as I’m concerned. I feel less whole and human after attempting to digest any of it.
Terrible.
Somewhat endearingly odd and off-kilter, but just a bit too twee for me.
Hard no. This is bad prog. How this made the list and a great band like Tool was ignored is shameful. This album is another reason why punk needed to happen.
Loved the transitions and buildups in all the songs, good mix of artsy and surreal soundscapes
Cetait vraiment pas pire!
Solid 3. Nice instrumentals
I remember getting another Robert Wyatt album earlier on this list, and being pleasantly surprised by it. This was the same, it was a lot more interesting and weirder than I was expecting it would be. A bit of anomaly for things on this list from the 70s. Thoroughly enjoyed this. More things like this please!
Didn’t work for me but being a paraplegic drummer must be pretty tough so 2 stars
2.0 I will have to give it another go at some point to see if I still think its sucks
Mesmerising. I'm very impressed by all the little melodies that come together and somehow are both chaotic and harmonious
Actively unpleasant to listen to.
I could not stand to finish any one of the songs on this album.
I wanted to like it given the tragic back story, but it did not quite come together. I do hear influences in there that were expressed on David Bowie's LOW and Radiohead's KID A. It was unfortunate we didn't get to hear what it might have sounded like if it had been completed before his accident.
I would quite happily filter this pish out of the rest of my life. Reluctant to give it any stars at all.
Now this is an album I appreciate for being different but don't particularly like
weirdo music desu
Not as bad as I was expecting given the rating here, but I can't say that I found much here.
Probs like a 3.8 but I enjoyed this
Selten hat ein Albumname die Beurteilung so gut beschrieben wie dieses. Es handelt sich um zusammenhangloses Gelaiere und Gequitsche. Ich vermute der Interpret hielt sich für ein Genie, ich halte ihn für einen Wahnsinnigen.
Is this a joke? A paraplegic drummer records an album produced by another drummer. You'd have had equal success giving a bag of broken rubber chickens to a 3rd grade class and telling them to make an album. In fact, I'm fairly certain I heard a gaggle of broken rubber geese at one point, and I thought to myself, "So this is why they don't make rubber geese." I was saving a 1 star review for Kid Rock, but this gets one too. Though I'd rather listen to this than Kid Rock. I'd most prefer the 3rd grade class with recorders and rubber chickens.
4/10 A bit too weird for my liking. A lot of songs are very weird and repetitive Favourite Song=Little Red Robin Hood Hit The Road Least Favourite Song=Alifib
Not for me