Rock Bottom

Quite different and odd for the era, did not really enjoy it though.

Very odd?

Wow... this is the first album on the list I couldn't finish. This is truly terrible.

I don’t even remember anything from it. Probably not a good sign

Strange, and at times very beguiling. At other points the twee theatricality got the better of me and took me out of any potential atmosphere. But certainly enough to be interested in here. Fave track: Alife

This got so much better as it went on. I was ready to write this album off after the first track. The atonal singing and unusual melodies are an easy turnoff. But a few tracks in and this hypnotic and abstract blending of rhythms, sounds, and spoken word poetry creates an unsettling but alluring mood that really seems ahead of its time. It’s a challenging listen and maybe incomplete in its ambitious intentions as a whole, but there’s a lot to enjoy here. Three and a half. Fave track: Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road (part 1)

For acid trippers? It’s a bad trip for me.

This isn't your average progressive album, as instead of powerful hooks, entrancing guitar solos, and storylines to give Hollywood a run for its money, you instead get a skittish British man seemingly rambling over jazz-y rock, with this weirdly beautiful dread consuming the air as you listen to it. However, this change of pace is completely welcome, in my opinion. The haunting atmosphere that is formed from the manic piano, and alien synths give it this otherworldly feeling, but whenever Robert Wyatt starts singing, in which you can assuredly tell he is looking at his shoes whilst seeing, too nervous to look you in the eye, it all becomes too close to home. You feel nervous, anxious even, but the songs always relieve you of this feeling with these transcendent key changes that are always gorgeous and breath-taking, and the off-tone pianos become angels in a choir, and the space-age synths feel Heaven sent, and I can feel put together again, and truly say this is one of the greatest albums I've ever listened to.

Is it music because someone is making musical sounds with their voice? Because instruments are being used?

Nr. 109/1001 Sea Song 1/5 A Last Straw 2/5 Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road 2/5 Alifib 2/5 Alife 1/5 Little Red Robin Hood Hit The Road 1/5 Average: 1,5 Only slightly better than unlistenable.

Veit ekki hvað skal segja. Ekki leiðinlegt og stundum notalegt, en líka stundum tilgerðarlegt röddin gerir ekkert fyrir mig. Eigum við að henda í tvist eða þrist?

Lo peor que he escuchasdo en mi vida

Tää oli vähän liian taiteellista meikälle! 2/5

Annoin listan edelliselle Wyattin levylle ykkösen, mutta tähän pääsin sen verran kuitenkin sisään, että ansaitsee kakkosen.

Taitaa olla jo toinen Wyatt listalla, enkä tätäkään vielä ihan tajua. Sinänsä riemastuttavaa outoilua mut ei puhuttele. 2.5/5

Not my rhythm

Wow. I'm stunned. 250 albums in and I've finally found something that's completely blown away from a genre I was no expecting. Everything just seemed to click and I've no idea why. The opener was earnest and heartwarming. Little Red Riding Hood seemed to be foreshadowing mid 2000's Radiohead three decades early. The Alfib tracks were strange at first but cute after a couple listens. And the album outro is so out of place but also perfectly in place. Binged a few times now and I still hear something new and exciting with every listen. Congratulations 1001 albums, you've finally done what I expected from the start.

I'm like, what the actual fuck? This made me have bad acid flashbacks. Talk about trash.

Appropriate title. When you think it can’t get any worse, it does. My favorite part of this album was when it was over.

"Rock Bottom" is the sevond solo album by former Soft Machine drummer and English musician Robert Wyatt. Art rock, Canterbury scene, prog and pyschedelic rock are the assigned genres. I'd also say experimental...very experimental. The album was recorded following a 1973 accident which left Wyatt a paraplegic. It was produced by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason. Wyatt was the lead vocalist and played keyboards, percussion, slide guitar and, yes, wine glasses. Wyatt employed other musicians including Mike Oldfield (guitar), Gary Windo (bass clarinet, tenor sax), Ivor Cutler (voice, baritone concertina and harmonium), Richard Sinclair (bass), Hugh Hopper (bass), Laurie Allen (drums) and Fred Frith (viola). The album received much critical acclaim. "Sea Song" opens the album with a piano and a lingering drone sound. This is slow with instruments appearing randomly in an improvisational sort of way. The vocals are meandering and mostly sounds. "Last Straw" also starts with a piano although with an ominous tone. We also get the clicking wine glasses. Side one ends with "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road." Horns making random noises. This song really reminded me of Radiohead's "National Anthem." "Alifib" is the name of his lover, I believe. Hey I was able to understand something. This song has a synth note holding long creating an ambient vibe. There's random guitar noises. There's a guy panting. And, the song goes right into the next song "Alifie." Rapid percussion. Piano and horns makes this more jazzy. "Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road" closes the album. A marching band drum beat. The keyboards creating a droning noise. Meandering guitars. And it ends with strings and distorted guitars. Woah! I do recognize the achievement of Wyatt being able to record this album six months after becoming a paraplegic. Honestly though, I had trouble completely connecting with this. Random noises, the droning sounds, unintelligible vocals. Yeah, this falls mostly in the experimental music genre. And, typically I'm all about that. The best parts of this album sound like Radiohead's "Kid A." If your a big fan of "Kid A," there is a chance you might like this. And, maybe someday I will too.

Really liked this on first listen. But I need to downgrade because very little has stuck with me. Maybe I'll come back and relisten again. 3 = enjoyed but won't listen again 4 = listened again at least once because I wanted to hear it again So this is a 3.5, which breaks my scale. I haven't given many 1's though, so I guess I'll round down and recalibrate future ratings lower.

Sounds like he was just noodling around while high

3- Stars (7/15)

It's experimental but I can't find a steady pace with it.

Didn't know the artist Robert Wyatt. Sea Song - sounds like he's pissed drunk. A last Straw - like improv on a piano Little red riding hood - he's on drugs now. Alifib - he's now incoherent on meth. Alfie - I give up. This is simply a crap album from a drugged up Mr. Wyatt who thinks he's an artist. He's not. 1 star

This is another album that listening to it once (for a day) just isn't enough. I barely feel like I got to know it at all yet. There are no catchy tunes, nothing you'll find yourself hummming later on in the day. It's a nice album though. Solid 3/5

I do not like this album. It seems to be far too experimental for me to see much merit in it. Don't enjoy his voice, the lyrics are hard to decipher at all most of the time and it's mostly just keyboard tones and noises. Luckily, it was only 1/2 hour.

progr., experimentell, 1974 -> 1

Got nothing really to say about this. I wanted to enjoy it after reading the synopsis but there’s nothing really to dig into. Its gone so far into the obscure it’s almost boring. I definitely feel ‘art rock’ is better these days than back then

Toxic levels of prog rock, the random noises that replaced a large portion of the lyrics was particularly wanky. Feels like Rob recorded what ever came into his head without stopping to think if it was any good, and it almost always wasn't. I guess the general sound wasn't completely unlistenable but largely seemed to be strange in an attempt to be interesting and I didn't like it. 1.5.

I can see what he was going for, but it wore my patience out. Probably goes a bit over my head. I can't 100% make up my mind about it - on a different day I think I'd enjoy it, but it was a bit of a struggle. I didn't mind Alifib. Also - the tracks need to be shorter.

The best thing I can say about this album is that it's only 33minutes long. The rest of it is just awful.

Hmm. This is pretty out there. Probably a bit too much so for me to want to go back, but there was something about it I did quite enjoy Think the opening track is the best one, but I felt it got a bit too strange as it went on. It kinda makes me feel like I'm too stupid to get it, but there was something. Could he only think of 4 different song titles? Or are those 2 with very similar titles to 2 others linked in some clever way that I don't appreciate? I didn't dislike it. 2.5

very mellow. 3 stars.

It a fan of this genre of music. Good musical talent but a bit erratic and disorganized.

Holy Smokes that was hard work. Closest to a 1* album i've found yet. Hard prog is not fun, that's what i've found out today

No thank you

I was stoked I've never heard of this before. I usually get into odd stuff, but I really didn't like this at all. Sounds like a combination of Robert Dawson in a fever dream, new Brian Eno, and Teeth of the Sea songs being played over each other. Not the interesting discordance I would have liked, this is a cacophonous mess.

If you're willing to engage with Wyatt's wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wa- wild songwriting structures, this one might be worth hanging around for. It's certainly not easy to warm up to, nor a particularly comfortable ride, but does share a lot of dream-like instrumentation with early Pink Floyd, which I really enjoyed. There's definitely a lot going on here that was far ahead of its time, but as a listener, you kind of have to keep reminding yourself of that to get the enjoyment.

What initially comes across as a tough hang, in time, gives way to devastating beauty for the patient, active listener.

Oooff. I wasn't really feeling this. Didn't hate it but didn't really like it either.

Surprisingly interesting. Not something I’m going to get back to but definitely better than most Pink Floyd records.

I tried. I really did. Just not into the experimental music today.

Only listened once didn't hate it but didn't love it. Probably need another listen to know how I feel.

Nope, still weird

Sorry Bob, not my cup of tea.

Couldn't stand the voice. Didn't manage to get through the second song

I have never heard of this artist, so this was completely new to me. Although this is not music I usually seek out, Robert Wyatt's voice is compelling.

This was a slog to get through. I’d have given it one star, except the story of its creation is pretty neat. The music itself seems like a first draft that needs a lot more work and production.

Interesting listen. Smooth folk decorated with psychedelic noise. Will revisit.

Didn't know Robert Wyatt before this year and recently heard a really lovely song. I have a bit more patience for this as a result, would probably lump it in with prog meandering if I hadn't heard that other one. Interesting but doesn't grab me. It's got to be a personal triumph to complete an album a year after a life-changing accident, but I'm only giving out stars for music (and perhaps activism? unclear.) I bet there's a different Robert Wyatt album that's more essential listening than this one, though I suppose I could see this as essential if you like post-rock more than I do.

I read a ton of music magazines as a kid, and especially liked Uncut because it came with a CD every month. One time in the early 2000s there was a big write up on Robert Wyatt because he had a new record coming out. I read about him and was fascinated. Downloaded all the albums etc. This one is an obvious stand out because of its place in the guy’s life. Much greater than the sum of its parts, even though the sum of its parts is quite good on its own.

This is a peculiar album and I really don’t know what to make of it. Is it terrible? Is it genius? It’s definitely growing on me the more I listen to it. This album defies review. It can only be a 1 or a 5. I vote genius.

Quite experimental.

Likably strange and quietly eccentric, but a bit underpowered. Certainly, it achieves its goal of being so different that it tends toward irrelevant or at least unrelatable, if not unlistenable. Rather sweet discordance in the end, innit.

Not my music.

Bizarre. Bonkers. I've no idea what was happening but I kept at it and rather enjoyed it. Robert Wyatt's voice is great and his ideas for this album have been fascinating. Not the album I was expecting as all I've known is 'Shipbuilding' (which is brilliant) but a real meander into a very strange and different place. Nice and eye opening.

Like a Bowie impersonator singing over Radiohead impressions. I had a headache before I started listening, and without an inch of hyperbole, it got worse over the course of the album. Objectively speaking, it's probably not actually a 1 in terms of quality, but I just really disliked it. 21/12/23

Awful. Just awful. No extra credit for having a self-inflicted injury.

Kind of interesting but probably wouldn't listen again

I feel like I get where this is going - musically interesting and enjoyable, lyrically good to start with but vocally quite unpleasant and not enough to make me want to come back for more

I enjoyed the other Robert Wyatt album from the list, but this one decidedly less so. It's still pretty good, but I get the feeling that he's being weird for the sake of being weird. The thing about genuinely crazy people is that they often don't know they're crazy.

The story about the album is more interesting to me than the music.

One of those albums that’s on here for a laugh. I like those ones occasionally. Like a mate slipping you a CD and saying “You need to hear this” “Oh, is it good?” “No, but it’s f_____g mad.”

Really liking this Robert Wyatt guy! It’s a right mix of eclectic and interesting but sincere and fun. I’m feeling like I even underrated Shleep. It’s up there with that Todd Rundgren’s Wizard. I think a 4.5. Especially love that droning outro to he album.

Liked it in the start, but became too much of a heavy metal by 5 songs. However the mastering is commendable

like the other one better. might be because of my mood. weird dude 5/10

Started off like a bad impression of a Bowie album, and sorry to say it never grabbed me after that. The writing and singing weren't strong, and never quite fit with the music. The production was abysmal - it struck me that Wyatt sounded like he walked into a studio and decided to sing over another record. In a year that brought us progressive pinnacles like The Lamb Lies Down, Red, and Relayer, this album stands out as a major disappointment. As a prog fan I am glad this was on the list, both for the story of its creation and as a cautionary tale. With the people involved, this could have been an intriguing "difficult listening" album, and wound up sounding like a parody of the genre.

No thanks.

boring

Vocals ruin it

Possibly the single worst album I've ever listened to.

Oof. These vocals are tough to listen to. They’re high-pitched, grating and frequently off key. The music occasionally has some interesting stuff going on but the it’s hard to get past the singing. And anyway, the music doesn’t particularly call to me either. It’s got a queasy feeling to it. I get the impression that this is exactly the way Robert Wyatt wants the music to sound but man, I’m really not into it. I’m enjoying these horns on “Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road.” This is a cool song. I don’t totally love it (again, the vocals) but it has a certain power. Some interesting music in the second half, including experimental free jazz on a few songs. It mostly feels like a backdrop though. And usually what's going on in the foreground (like the German-accented vocals at the end of the last track) isn't something I'm interested in.

Pretty cool experimental / improvisational sound. I really enjoy the blend of experimental with traditional. I feel MORE enthused to listen to music like this when there is some unknown about what is coming next, and often in experimental music you tend to actually know what is coming next if 100% of the music is experimental. Does that make sense? When everything you've heard is weird, it's not exciting to hear MORE weird parts? It's exciting at that moment to hear something contextually weird- like a traditional part. My gripe (because I have to have one lol) is that there seems to be a limited bandwidth for experimental music on this 1001 list and I can think of many other albums over this one that are deserving of a place that I've not seen yet after ~450 or so albums. It was just OK.

Not really good sounding, but interesting for the time I suppose

Ciekawe, ale nie dla mnie

Weird

Hadn't heard of this guy or this album... and as I listened to it, I thought... what the f@@k is this sh!t£????? Who the hell needs to listen to this??? I mean seriously??? This is bonkers nuts rubbish.. no sane person ever needed to hear this!!!

Interesting sound that I wanted to like but just can't get into it

I am certainly open to albums that skew a bit more "art", but this one was a bit much for me. The real story for this album seems to be what happened leading up to it. Wyatt apparently had written the album, but then he fell off a balcony while drinking one night and permanently paralyzed himself from the waist down. He then finished making and recording this album in the months after the accident. He claims it was mostly done beforehand, but it's hard to believe that the accident didn't have a significant impact on how this turned out. While I struggle a bit with the content here (two of the songs have nonsense lyrics), there's definitely a lot of emotion in the album, particularly in the instrumentation. This is one that I'm probably not going to listen to again, but I respect what Wyatt was going for and can't imagine what he went through to get this made. Favorite song: Sea Song 11/21/23

Zu soft in dem Moment

This album grew on me. The first track was surprising (in a good way), but the second and third ones didn't quite hit the mark. However, by the end of my listen, I was entranced. Will revisit.

Not a huge fan of this album. I will try a listen on a few other albums of his.

The music is really interesting. Feels like prog and is genuinely very good. But the lyrics and voice kills the vibe. 2 stars

It’s like this dude heard Pink Floyd and said “what if I just kept the annoying shitty parts?”

nope

Started and restarted this 3 times this morning, fell asleep 3 times. After another listen, I kinda liked it. Not sure it belongs on this list, but I'll keep it in mind the next time I can't fall asleep.

What kinda junk is this?

Bad

Never heard this before. Super rad. Sea Song in particular was epic. Also, the story behind the record is quite tragic.

Ya know, I tend to love an art rock, and maybe it was my mood yesterday, but this just didn't land with me. The Radiohead influence is strong, though. Which I liked.

Pretty interesting, though I'd never heard of Robert Wyatt before. Kind of reminds me of some of Pink Floyd's experimental stuff from the early 70's. Makes sense; this album was produced by Nick Mason. It didn't always work for me, but overall I enjoyed the varied moments of cacophony.

This album is super cool. I really like it and never heard of it. I wanna look into more Robert Wyatt now. 4.25/5

Wow, I kind of love this? It’s like I discovered a prog rock classic from that period. King Crimson-ish in the best possible way, and kudos to Nick Mason for solid production. B

What a beautiful piece of art.

I was curious to find out how an album produced by Nick Mason in 1974 would sound like. Spoiler alert: it sounds exactly like you would imagine, albeit with a lot less tom-smashing. Rock Bottom is a great combination of art, psychedelic and prog rock. Notably, where a lot of the output from these genres in the late 60s/early70s quickly sound dated, the soundscapes (yuck, I know) and more atmospheric compositions on Rock Bottom still sound fresh and engaging 50 years later. Would the album have received as much attention and praise if not for Wyatt's accident? Tough to say.

A stunningly complex, atmospheric, unique and mystic recorded under pretty unusual circumstances. Robert Wyatt certainly isn’t for everyone but if you catch his vibe and let yourself into his world there a lot to unpack on Rock Bottom. Side A is great, but it’s on the soundscape-y, artsy and altogether brilliant Side B that you fully get why this album is on the list.

Ah huh ah huh huh ah aha ah huh huh ahhhhhhhh huh ahhh huh!!- Real lyrics from “Sea Song”. Wap wap wap wap wap wap wap wapwapwap!!!- Real lyrics from “A Last Straw”. Two minutes of straight trumpet from “Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road”. Uhhh uhh uhhh uhhhh. Uhhh uhh uh Uhhh Uhhhh uhh uhhh uhhhh. Fully bologna. Real lyrics from “Alifib” Bro, is he choking a goose in this song? Wth. Then it got even weirder. “I wanted I wanted I wanted, give it to me. Yum Yum Ha Ha Ha Ha. I’m so confused. 1/10

Another solo artist that simply wasn’t good. Long annoying songs. This dude into the mic: “wah wah wah wah” and someone goes “get this man a record deal!”. No idea how people listen to this and call it good music. Strange voice that sounds like his vocal cords are 1/3 the size of a normal person’s. Melodies are bizarre. The album is well titled though because I did feel I hit rock bottom listening to this. That was awful. 1/10

I already know this is going to be the most controversial review of this group so far and probably for the entirety of this project. I really liked the album. It's super weird and plays purposeful clashing notes to give you a sense of uneasy feeling that you sometimes hear in horror movies or video games. Sea Song is pretty pleasant overall and Last Straw uses very strange notes and random instruments throughout that I think blend together well. Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road implements big band style Jazz to present a very beautiful song. Alifib and Alife are the two weakest tracks and they also are back to back which makes 12 minutes straight of not the best this album has to offer. 8/10

Holy shit what is this? Out of tune singing coupled with out of tune instruments. ‘Sea Song’ has a piano solo that just sounds like someone slamming their dick on the keys. Then it has a vocalization solo that sounds like he is getting slammed in his dick. This guy sings like he is making up the lyrics on the spot. This album is like a make a wish foundation child with no musical talent wished to make an album but the kid is a grown British man. The best part of the album is when Robert Wyatt is quiet which he rarely is. Alifib or Anus Licking is for interesting bitches is just a dude sounding like he’s getting pegged with noises in the background. This album made me wish I was deaf. 1/10 This is the worst album I have reviewed so far.

Weird, I like 3.5/5

This gave me lots of anxiety with little pay off

Rock bottom is an accurate title for this album. Did not enjoy this record at all. Wyatt's lyrics are thin and hard to listen to, instrumentals are all over the place, and the record is an incoherent mess. Maybe someone's cup of tea, but definitely not mine.

Contemplative, patient, tortured, and vulnerable. You can really feel the tragedy of his accident here, and him overcoming it in a headlong dive.

I am always bittersweet seeing Wyatt's name attached to a record. On one hand, I know it will be great, on the other, I am reminded of his paralysis. And nowhere does it feel more present than in this album.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I really don’t understand the appeal of this album. I didn’t find it pleasant to listen to at all. Kind of harrowing, and not in a good way. I decided to look it up to see what the story was, and it turns out that Robert Wyatt fell from a window at a party and became paraplegic while making it. I thought that may explain why it feels so dark, but it turns out he’s started writing it before the accident.

The bottom line for me, is it simply did not sound good to me. Was a tough listen but I listened to the whole thing. Not really sure what the point was…maybe some kind of counter culture art? I’m not at all opposed to unique sounds, creative albums but this was way over my head I guess. I’m glad I know it exists in the world but never again will I subject myself to that.

This was a really difficult album to listen to. I found myself becoming transfixed and really having to focus on the music. I’d get lost in interesting chords and soundscapes. The instrumentation is brilliant through almost all of the album. I think so much of the album is really impressive and creative. But I do think in some areas it goes a little too far. I think Wyatt’s vocals and English-ness subtracted from the album in parts. The lyrics were hard to understand and even when I read them I didn’t think they were the most impressive. Overall, it’s an interesting album, but I wouldn’t put it on for fun.

Just a freaking cool. way-out-there, off-the-wall type of album. Somehow the combination of incorporating grand instrumentation with an ambient and experimental style ends up in such in interesting listen. 7/10

This was a bit too progressive for me. Perhaps there will be a time in life when this album can make a personal connection for me.. but the vocals really make it tough. However, I can recognize that the music is interesting and progressive for the era.

First track was really hard to enjoy. Got marginally better.

Yuck

Mon 2ème de lui. Très déçu j'ai pas aimé du tout. Chansons longues instrumentales plates pour moi.

I feel this was put on the list by some oragnic free trade bean drinking hipster for the soul purpose of letting people know he knows it exists.

Holy hell, that was awful!

Weird

This might the first album I’ve got that I’ve genuinely disliked

I like the story behind it but didn’t like the music itself. Rating: 2.0

очень психоделика)

Bloody awful. Glad it was recuperative for him, but it’s painful for the rest of us. This sounds like someone was just experimenting with a synthesizer to see what would happen, rather than actually composing music.

Hard to rate this one-so much sounds interesting and experimental in a good way. Its super ahead of its time. Some stuff just sounds bad though. Gotta be a shaky four

Extraordinarily listenable and emotional for being so bold and experimental. His lines are so lyrical. I'm hearing the portentous lines from future Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, others. I was pretty onboard until LITERALLY Alife, which I found unlistenable with those weirdo sax sounds! Very awful! I must deduct a star from this otherwise very adventurous journey into a unique mind. I just love the touches, the strange harmonium and string pads, really wild stuff. A strange, genius mind made this, and I’m just getting to know its contours, because it’s not like anything I’ve ever heard. 4/5

I always appreciate it when someone English sings with an English accent rather than the faux-American accent which most singers tend to emulate. Musically, this is superb, kaleidoscopic keyboards interweave to create a chilling, spooky atmosphere. Wyatt sings the poetic lyrics (sometimes wordless) and rich melodies in a lovely falsetto, and like a lot of "weird" music, at times it's almost childlike. Genuinely fascinating from start to finish.

Weird, not sure if i like it, but glad it exists.

First impression: wrong side of experimental for me, but I did feel compelled to give it another listen. Didn't change my opinion.

I was kind of aware of Robert Wyatt because of his version of Shipbuilding, but I think I assumed he was just another folkie la-dee-dah troubadour. I really enjoyed this album though, and exploring his catalogue. I was in the sweet spot for listening to chilled soothing melodies and innovative choices of instrumentation. The story behind the able was so captivating and made me want to listen more carefully. Plus: Ivor Cutler! Anything featuring Ivor Cutler ticks my box. Robert seems to have moved in all the right circles in my mind. Ivor Cutler's children's books (yes please), born in Bristol (me too), his accident happened whilst he was in Venice with his wife who was editing Don't Look Now, which I keep meaning to watch (I think, maybe, Edgar Wright mentioned it as a great film to watch), staunch leftie during the Thatcher years (go on, my son!), working with Bjork, Brian Eno, John Peel, David Gilmour (what good taste).

I did not know what to expect from this. It was weird, yet wonderful... being taken on a dreamlike magical journey, atmospheric and beautiful. The explanation of "Wyatting" on Wikipedia made me laugh, (both the gag itself and his wife's opinion).

Sentiment mitigé. J'ai beaucoup aimé certaines chansons (Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road et Little Red Robin Hood...), et pas du tout d'autres. Pas fan de la voix et des textes notamment, mais j'aime bien les instrus.

Rock anglais expérimental comme il y en a un peu trop sur cette liste. Pas nul, pas fou non plus.

Sorry you lost your legs

Very abrasive. Overall unpleasant 3/10.

Sounds like an insane Syd Barret album, which is saying something. Not sure I’ll listen to this again but glad i have one time.

Strange vibes. Intriguing. Beguiling. Genre defying? +//+ Of course, "very British Art-Rock from the 1970s" is its own micro-genre but to point that out is to be crankypantsman.

I suppose it only even comes down to taste and to be honest I find this more interesting and oddly engaging than many albums that are thrust my way for me to listen to. It's distant and whimsical and otherworldly. Art-rock yes but I find his voice really magnetic and fragile. This is a good find.

Speeeees

A grim look on despair and emptiness, while trying your hardest not to lose your sanity in the process. In the face of the darkest possible situation, Robert Wyatt tries to find a light

Laughably terrible. Seriously, I was laughing out loud about how terrible every song was.

This mostly sounds like it was conceived during labored fever dreams. According to Wikipedia, that's pretty much what happened. Goals achieved, I guess. Production also sounds very impressive for it's time in achieving what it was supposed to. It's just that the goals apparently did not include creating music that is in any way pleasant to listen to.

Rock experimental. Muy Aburrido.

Interesting album for sure but by the end its a one and done for me.

It was unhinged but I liked it? Not easy listening for sure, and definitely not something I'll put on again while I'm washing dishes or reading, but I'm glad I listened.

This was definitely an interesting one, I don't think I liked it enough to listen to it again but it was weird and psychedelic enough that it was fun to listen to it the first time. Alifib was really cool. I think if I was tripping this would absolutely destroy me but being sober during a workday it just doesn't hit the same.

Intense

Baby boomer bullshit

Respectfully, fuck off with this shit.

Very annoying

Weird shit. Decently written, though.

There were moments on here I enjoyed. Moments where it felt like a jazz album with some whimsical singer, but beyond those moments it kind of felt bland. Not sure, but I'd say that album cover is a pretty apt one in terms of its impact on me.

I've been watching through all the Twilight Zone episodes over the last six months or so, and I noticed that Rod Serling loves using the word "oddball" to describe the stories and characters. This is an oddball album. It's listed as "alternative," and I guess it's closest to psych rock or something, but it's weird. Strange vocal passages, long songs, gibberish track titles. I really dig it. It seems a little lost in time - I think I thought it was from the '60s, but somehow seems ahead of its time, released in the '60s. I don't know anything about Robert Wyatt or this album, but it was a nice, welcome trip into the twilight zone for me. Favorite tracks: Alifib, Alife, Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road (the second one), A Last Straw. Album art: Really hard to tell what I'm looking at. A pencil sketch of what, some flora abutting a beach? Is that a person in the water conjuring some celestial orbs? It's all so faint that imagination has to fill in the gaps. Not bad, definitely fitting. 4/5

It seemed like he was trying to take the hippie experience and translate it into something else. The problem is the translation was muddled. The songs themselves had some nice atmosphere to them, but it just didn't have anything under them. I'm surprised that the guy who was the drummer couldn't get someone else to lay down a solid beat. Because maybe it's me, but I didn't find it there. There just didn't seem to be a GROOVE. I guess that's what I'm looking for, and granted the British are not the GROOVIEST of people, but they have their moments. It's just not on this one.

I don't know, I just don't know. You prog lovers will probably enjoy this more than I do. Wyatt puts a lot of weird stuff together and it's not always off-putting, though Alifib and the sex-panting or Alife and the voice that ends up sounding like C3PO was. So what's the deal? Is this a good prog album or is it just here because Robert Wyatt was paralyzed before putting it together? If it's the latter, that's a bit of BS because why should we assume that someone paralyzed from the waist down can't do good things? Don't give it acclaim just because you thought he was crippled. I didn't think it was all that special from a prog rock perspective. I found it boring at times. If I didn't know the backstory, I'd say it's a 2. So that's where it stays.

This shouldn't work - Wyatt's voice is warbly, the music is crazed, and the weird Scottish poet is...well, weird. But somehow I find this album captivating. Sea Song is simply beautiful (I heard Tears for Fears' cover version before I heard the original). A Last Straw sounds like a lost early Pink Floyd song. The first Little Red Riding Hood track is insane (those trumpets, the drum beat, fantastic bass line, bizarre backwards singing). Alifib is transfixing and Alifie has an air of mystery (and man that crazy sax solo). Then the second Little Red Riding Hood - the guitars are amazing, the "can't you see them" part just blows me away - the music is so intense - and I even find the weird Ivor Cutler recitation sounds fascinating with the droning underneath. This album shouldn't work, but it does.

Pretty fascinating but pretty dark. It's kind of an intense listen and a commitment to go from front to back. It's not my favorite, and I can't really imagine going back for another listen, but it was still captivating and was overall impessive.

Wie heeft dit op deze lijst gezet? Dit is toch gewoon niet om aan te horen?

Wat een gewauwel! De titel doet zijn naam eer aan.

Ik denk dat dit een geheim experiment is van de Amerikaanse overheid. Dat ze op Guantanamo Bay de gevangenen dagen achtereen naar deze kutzooi laten luisteren om ze volledig te breken. Ik ben na anderhalf nummer al gebroken, dus dat geeft wel aan wat een krachtig wapen ze met Robert Wyatt in handen hebben!

Weer hij. Laat het stoppen!

Weird but not unlistenable

Interesting that it was produced by Nick Mason, as it reminds me a bit of early Pink Floyd. Strangely, this is the second Robert Wyatt album I've had in the last three weeks, someone I had never heard of before. Like the last one (Shleep) I'm not quite sure what to make of it. There are aspects of it that I like but overall it's just a bit too random and meandering, and I don't love his voice. 3 stars.

What a curious little album. I don’t know if I’d say I ‘enjoyed’ it loads, but I definitely admire it. The almost childlike vocals and lyrics contrast with the complex and experimental arrangements, and the result is a kind of twisted fairytale world that’s quite alluring. I can understand why this made the list.

This guys insane

Interesting, but not sure I'll revisit it and I give too many 3s

1.5

Favourites: • Sea Song • Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road • Alifie

There were some elements in this that I enjoyed a lot more than others.

Always an interesting listen.

Very hard work. Moments of beauty but disjointed between that.

Bit strange

2nd August 2023. Caught up late cos busy with London and too many podcasts. I try to understand what people like about albums like this. Jazz, prog, folk, it’s just a mess. No.

‘Drones and songs’ from the mind of a parapalegic. The first track is objectively a challenge to get through. Disjointed and erratic. However, as the album flows, and most interestingly, as each track develops, I found myself enjoying the intricate details and complexities that make the album incredible. It’s not a crowd pleaser with any sort of pop sensibility. But for what it lacks in sugar, it makes up for in spice. 3.6

Som bem diferenciado, criativo e instrumentado. Produzido por nick Mason

1.5. Like this dude, but not into the album.

This didn't work on me. No sale.

I truly wanted to like it.

This was below rock bottom

I usually like weird and offbeat, but this isn't hitting me right. Probably won't listen to it again. Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road has a good intro. Did I render judgement too soon? Nope. Not too soon.

Not really my style, will not be listening to this again.

Highlights: Alifib Leave Em's: Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road, Alife Overall Thoughts: This album sounds like the result of putting an old man, unfamiliar with music, on vocals and a young child with ADD on production, together in a room and asking them to make an album. The vocals are not strong and oftentimes do not match what is happening with the instrumentation. I wonder how some albums like this make their way onto this list... I did not find much redeeming in this album at all and came away from it feeling like I wasted my time. Score Breakdown: 1.517 & 1 -> 1.259

I was sceptical of this at first, monologues over sine waves, you're not getting me to scratch my chin, mate. But it opens up, and by the third song I was comparing it to This Heat and late Talk Talk, both of which I adore. It's introspective, maddened, instrumentally expansive, but feels very personal. Ran out of time for the second listen again. A cagey 4.

very experimental and, unfortunately, quite unpleasant to listen to

I like the noodly take that some Radiohead does, apparently inspired by this guy. It's weird, and clearly has a quality, but it isn't an album I'll listen to again

This is one of those albums that makes you stop, ponder, and genuinely question the universe and hope to whatever deity you follow that you can find an answer to WTF did I just listen to?

I’m not sure what this was but it went by fast

Weird and proggy

Dissonant, proggy. I'm not particularly sure why I'm letting this escape my one star graveyard, but maybe a part of me likes it. It's weird. But I don't think I understand it, at all. Favorite track: "Alifie"

i really liked this album! it was pretty "out there" and musically experimental compared to others on this list. the first three tracks were great, and the backstory of Robert Wyatt's life at the time adds another dimension to this work. this felt like a crossover between radiohead and the replacements (minus the super creepy/unnerving vibes). favorites: sea song, a last straw, little red riding hood hit the road

Kiusallisia vokalisointeja. En myöskään ole puhallinsoitin- ja kiipparikokeilujen ystävä. Mutta jäin paikoin kiinnostuneena kuuntelemaan

Vaikea uskoa, että aloin kaipaamaan kahden ekan biisin nauruja. Mutta älä minusta välitä. Väristele vain menemään.

I couldn't get into this. It sounds like he's singing out of tune, or backwards or some weird shit. Experimental and trance-like is how spotify describes it. It's just noise to me.

It starts brilliantly - Sea Song is amazing. It never quite hits those peaks again, as it's often tempted into a noodly jam place, but it is almost all really great. Haunted, bruised, but open hearted and warm.

When I saw this was prog that all the cool kids said was unlistenable garbage, I got real excited. Turns out it's just unlistenable garbage. Too bad.

The notion that this is somehow enjoyable completely escapes me. I've read the Radiohead comps and that's perfect cause kid a and ok comp were also aimless pieces of shit

3.75

1 star for musicianship and another star for the nice drawing on the cover.

In my top 5 of hate.

The title says it all tbf. Some dogshit this 👍🏾

Absolute shite.

I listened to this once, read some of the reviews on the site and they said it improves with a second listen, so listened to it again just in case. I did learn to appreciate the bits where he isn't doing an accent a bit more, but other than that did not take much away from the second listen. It's psychedelic, and there are a couple of cool instrumental bits, but he really can't sing very well, the lyrics are more miss than hit, and it's quite a painful listen in places. 1/5.

Melko huono, ei kuitenkaan riittävän paska.

Ei lähteny ollenkaan

Rock Bottom is right

It was a little weird. I thought i would like it better. Maybe after a few listens.

First listen left me cold. Had no patience for experimental, sonically challenging music with a singer who seem to be improvising. It seemed rather ridiculous at first. But the lines between madness, genious and tounge in cheek nonsense are thin here. I gave it another shot in the evening, and then another. And this cacophony of madness really grew on me. It certainly isn’t something I will listen to often, and it’s not suited for regular playlists. But when in the mood for exploring more difficult sonic landscapes Rock Bottom really does the trick.

Every once in a while you come across an album so bad it makes you question why you're even doing this 1001 list. But then you realize that the album is pretty short and can give it a terrible rating and move onto the next one, which is great. Swing and a miss by Wyatt - bad singing and instrumentals all over the place. And the songs aren't even songs, they're just random sounds. 2/10.

I had to listen to this album a few more times after being highly intrigued at first listen. The surrealist but dark jazzy atmosphere of this 70's prog album really kept drawing me back in. Some of the soundscapes reminded me of Gabriel-era Genesis. I can understand this isn't for everyone, but I've really grown very fond of this album.

I listened to this back to back with “Graceland,” which was my album before this one. I found this album much more refreshing, endlessly delightful, calming, and also invigorating. I’ve listened to this album once before but the conditions under which I listened to it this time around — crafting in a sunlit room — were much more agreeable at illuminating the best of what Wyatt had to offer. Surprisingly for a psychedelic record, this one gets a 5.

Little too out there for me

Weird but mostly not in a good way.

In prog rock, as in many things in life, you experience hits and misses. This is a definite miss.

Ma che cos'è sta roba?

PREFS : TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN

Some clever sounds, and is definitely experimental. I can tell why it didn't catch on in the US.

Name says it all.

Experimental, weird and chaotic in the best way.

Not for me this. Just couldn’t enjoy it at all

Really just not for me. Can’t think of much I enjoyed.

To strange for me. The compositions are to avante garde.

3.5 husker ikke så mye av den, en uke senere tho

Interesting but a little too sad even for me

I don’t love it, but there’s a lot to unpack here. I’ll give it another few listens but I can see why people wouldn’t be into this.

This was an interesting listen, but only memorable in a very unsettling way. Still glad to have listened to it though.

Didn't do it for me personally, but I guess it wasnt UNpleasant

Well this was unusual I guess! Looked him up and this guy was quite influential it seems. Big in the Canterbury music scene but then had to stop owing to becoming paraplegic when he fell out a window. This has lots of themes and motifs I loved, like the brass bits. But then some inheritantly irritating parts which spoilt it for me. Some of the singing styles. So a mix for me

This was fine, kind of interesting and fun but nothing special for me.

C'est un peu flou dans ma tête après Lightning Bold - Wonderful Rainbow... mais j'ai bien aimé celui-ci, c'est spécial, mais mélodique et certaine chanson sorte du lot. 3.5

An oddity. Bit proggy, bit like late Radiohead Very English. Almost whispered soft vocals. Its very dense and requires repeated listens. Unfortunately it doesn't win me over but I can see its attraction.

Rock psicodélico progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.

Looks like... maybe folky stuff? Album art is a pencil drawing, doesn't give much away. I'm guessing singer-songwriter stuff without a full band? Let's find out. Most likely from the UK, lol. Ok yep it's folky, mixed with maybe prog-ish ideas as well and fucking hell this is VERY English. Another outsider art-esque affair by the sounds of things. And by "outsider art-esque" I mean it's laughably bad. Zero talent in the songwriting, singing is horrendous. Half the lyrics are backwards? Like he recorded it backwards then reversed it again? Maybe the music as well? I'd love to know the rationale behind greenlighting these sorts of projects. SOMEONE is having a laugh at Robert Wyatt's expense here, although I guess joke's on them because one IDIOT named Robert Dimery didn't realise and thought it should be immortalised in his stupid book lol. But no, there is nothing of any interest or worth here. 1/5.

slow pacing, annoying vocals, alifib is nice

No. Lots of musicians doing their own thing. Discordantly.

not for me

The lyrics are fun in these songs but man they are a tough listen! I found myself more interested in his history and the influence he had on bands like Tears for Fears than I was in actually getting through the album, unfortunately.

weird but cool

No

Did not like

I don't like this...

Genres: Art rock, canterbury scene, progressive rock, psychedelic rock Formed: (Solo) 1974 Run time: 6 songs, 39 min, 33 sec There is only six songs, but they are all over 5minutes in length. Track 1 “Sea Song” is about a mermaid. The lyrics are ‘out there’! “Partly fish, partly porpoise”, and “Your madness fits in nicely with my own”. There is at least 2 minutes of nonsense noises at the end of the track. Track 2 “A Last Straw” talks about seaweed and “Your rocky bottom”. Another ‘out there’ song with lyrics like “We’ll not grow fat inside The mammary gland”. There’s a minute of nonsense in the middle. Track 3 “Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road” starts with almost 3 minutes of instrumental and then continues with lyrics that are utter nonsensical drivel. Track 4 “Alifib”. The lyrics can only be described as utter rubbish. “Burleybunch the water mole”, “Hellyplop and fingerhole”. Track 5 “Alife” follows the previous track with no gap. More of the same… “Nit nit folly bololy” and so on. Much of the lyrical content is almost inaudible. Probably for the best. Track 6 “Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road”. Same title as track 3 but a different song. I can’t imagine how strong the marijuana and mushrooms must have been to create this album. I don’t normally give negative reviews, instead I opt to say nothing, but this was forty minutes of my life wasted! Thank God there are no more tracks. My Rating: *

Very odd, but a clear influence on loads of bands I love - Radiohead, Ultrasound, Pink Floyd, and lots of prog rock. Not one of the 1001 "best" albums, but probably one of the most interesting. A tricky one to score, as I didn't like it lots, but appreciated it and am glad to have listened to it (if that makes any sense!). Also, make sure to read the wiki page for this one, and for the artist.

meh

probably wont be checking this one out again, but it had some interesting melodies.

What?! No. Absolutely not. Next!

Innovative and interesting most of the time. Nothing seems to happen at times, but it’s not pretentious enough to keep you waiting for long. Overall, a positive experience. Thank you!

i felt bad about giving this one star, i wanted to save that for the truly egregious, and this record has a story of artistic integrity associated with it. however there is not one good moment in this album - even ivor cutlor couldnt save the day. this record reminded me that actually im quite a happy person. im fucking r a d i a n t cheer. im 400x more happy listening to loveless in the pissing rain than listening to this tedious jibberish anyway this record sucks and blows

Very cool I like the use of orchestration, each instrument knows its role and plays it very well I think this is the one album where I'm alm.ost sad that the songs weren't a bit longer and go further in depth, but oh well. It's aj octopus from me chief 🐙

Meh

Meh. It was weird. Early experimental music, a lot of sounds and talking. 2 stars

listened to again very strange and exploratory

*Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road

I love how the album cover looks like an ancient scroll, but besides that, this was a generally good listen. I love how slightly sorrowful yet captivating each song was. Fave track(s): Sea Song, A Last Straw

I particularly enjoy the instrumental on this album

Weird, peculiar - never heard of him before. but happy to explore for a couple of spins

Not a fan.

Vietnam war album

Quite annoying

This was pretty inscrutable but impressive

Like neurotic music but this one too freaky for me

Whoa, this is a pretty neat piece of work that I'd never heard of. Produced by Nick Mason (who does indeed give this project echoes of early Floyd), this album was recorded in a van on a farm, shortly after Wyatt experienced an accident that rendered him paraplegic. One song sounded like psychedelic jazz sung backwards and then played forwards. The next sounded like a beautiful, trippy little guitar solo played on a wide-open beach, with breaths providing the only percussion. This album, for lack of better words, sounds like it's everywhere. It's beautiful.

Just really not my jam. Interesting for sure, and unlike anything I've listened to, but not my jam.

Its very experimental, somewhere between pink Floyd and experimental jazz. For now i rate it between 3 and 4, but its an album that probably gets better with every listening turn.

I don't get it.

Hopes were up because of Nick Mason. Then they plummeted to Rock Bottom. When you consider Dark Side of the Moon was the same year, this, for "prog" was awful.

I don’t think a lot of those words were even real

3.4

A bit too experimental for me but I can definitely appreciate this. He released this after falling out of a window at a party and paralyzing himself from the waist down…puts the darkness into perspective. 3.4

Good

A very unique and interesting prog rock/psych rock album from the former Soft Machine drummer. I understand that the avantgarde weirdness isn't everyone's cup of tea but I love this. My fav is the last song.

Kind of strange but not bad

Weird album, wasn’t able to appreciate it.

Was he on drugs?!

Just not really my thing

2/5 I finally got through it.... UGH. I get that people do drugs but why do they also have to make experimental Jazz Rock Fusion too....? I read that he had an accident and became a paraplegic. Maybe he was dealing with a lot and that's why it's so painful to listen to. I don't know. Ugh. Glad it's over. It's sad too cause Sea Song was almost good and it lifted my hopes only to smash them against the Rocky Bottom Shoreline.

Rock bottom seems about right. What absolute garbage. Half a point given for being brief. The "wah-wah-wahs" in A Last Straw were a moment for sure but unfortunately NOT the last straw in terms of pap. This was painful.

Borderline unlistenable

Didn't think this album would ever end.

Boo

Что изначально показалось странной поделкой с непонятными творческими решениями просто потому что так можно, на втором прослушивании стало довольно красивым и интригующим альбомом. Для этого альбома определённо понадобится более одного прослушивания (и четырёхзначное айкью в придачу), чтобы полностью его осознать и может даже полюбить, но у меня, к сожалению, не хватает терпения и времени, чтобы приспособиться к этому творению. Очень на любителя. (6)

Granted, it's interesting but not really my taste...

this isn't even that bad, why is this so lowly rated? got a little bored towards the end but still dont understand the rating

Shite Awful vocals, dismay tune Only the 2nd album I couldn't even listen to the end

I had no idea what this was going to be about and I enjoyed it. It was sufficiently weird and prog rocky that I really liked it. Vocals weren't the best but they were competent enough that I didn't feel like ripping my ears out. Sad to read about the artist though. 3.5/5

Rock psicodélico progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.

Art rock. canterbury scene. Al final un poco rollo, un poco sinsentido. Pero bueno.

Rarely has solace been found when hitting rock bottom. It typically means one has approached the lowest ebb of life imaginable; a point where the point of no return has come upon them and seeks to immerse itself. That may have been the case for Robert Wyatt had he not seen the light that got him through the other side. Rock Bottom, for him, is the turning of a new leaf; a declaration of a new creative life that allows him to wander as freely as possible regardless of the physical limitations that defined his life, for better or worse. It could have been full of self-pitying misery, chock full of ruminations of a life left unrealized; instead it marked the beginning of a quest altogether new, exhilarating and thrilling.

Really enjoyed the musical style on this. Lots of cool melodies flying around on different instruments. It's a little out there, and the vocals got a little rough at spots, but I appreciated the creativity and mood changes.

This sucks.

This was a strange and enjoyable listen. Went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. I'd rate betweem 3.5 amd 4.

mmmmmm

I'm sorry Radiohead who??? This is one of the most moving, gorgeously crafted albums I've heard-- can't praise it enough! To think I might have never even heard it without this list!

Artrock, stille og roligt, lidt skørt

Unlistenable. Not a melody to be heard. Just, noise?

What the actual fuck did I just listen to? Robert Wyatt was the drummer of the band Soft Machine before branching off on his own. This is his second studio album, and this one was produced by Pink Floyd's drummer, Nick Mason. Need I say more? This album is super out there. Psychadelic folk maybe? I don't know what to call it. An unfortunate accident befell Wyatt in the middle of recording this record, leaving him paralyzed, which sucks, but my fuck this album still blows. Most of the album has no discernable beat to it at all. Someone just sat behind a piano and played random notes shittily while the bass player fell asleep and waves of God awful theramin screeching and synth garbage are layered overtop. Wyatt couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, and the lyrics are mostly nonsensical (especially in the song Alifib and Alife which isn't English, or any discernable language. It seems like he is singing backwards while brass instruments are abused in the background). The flute playing on Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road was terrible. The violin in Little Red Robin Hood Hits the Road sounds like something an unskilled 6 year old would play if given free range to wail on the instrument with no instruction. This album was garbage from start to finish. Painful to listen to really. Why the fuck is this on this list? Favourite song: Sea Song (if I had to pick one. In reality the whole album is trash) Least favourite songs: Alifib, Alife, A Last Straw, Little Red Riding Hood Hits The Road, Little Red Robin Hood Hits The Road 1/5

Ooops, it was awhile ago since I listened to this. However, I think I remember it being pretty bad. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I think this wasn't great

tf did I just listen to?

Started at a 2 for me and went downhill. Produced by Nick Mason and the psychedelic influence is definitely seen. Not a fan of this one as a whole.

OMG, what is this garbage?! Is this a joke?! Why is this on the list?! What does this even EXIST?!?! Utter trash. Doesn't even deserve one star.

What is this nonsense? The second track is mostly a the guy just going "wha, wha, wha, wha" over and over to a very minor key repetitive piano riff. This is too out there for me. I also have no idea what he's singing about in any of these songs. There's clearly some talent here and it's specified and focused on some group of people that probably really love this. Anyway, I never heard of Robert Wyatt and I think I know why.

It was hot garbage and not for me. One songs lyrics are wa wa wa wa over and over and over.

WTAF is this? WHY is this? Who was this made for, other than the artist himself? The answers to these questions are irrelevant. This album is genuinely unlistenable, and the only list it truly belongs on is "1001 Albums That Make You Wish You Were Dead." I couldn't even make it through an entire song; the best I could manage was a skim of the album. It is my fervent hope that I can purge this abomination from my memory banks and never waste another millisecond thinking about it. Life's too short to waste on terrible music.

I like this just enough. It's odd prog rock & I'm ok with that.