Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Was alright and a little more experimental. This fell victim to me listening to the Beatles beforehand
Cool songs with great production and arrangements
A flower power album with good production and interesting songs. Love the use of strings and horns throughout. Rating: 7/10 Favorite Song: You Set the Scene
Lovely
One of my favorite songs of all time makes this a worthy record just for the solo song. However, this is a very good record.
Nice music, meh vocals. Not terrible but pretty blah for me. Fine but boring 60s pop rock that feels every bit its age.
Album cover is good. Arrangement is nice. But not catchy enough. Also sound quality is a bit off (remastered in 2015?). Is it Spotify? I don’t think they wanted their music to be 3d?
More generic old school brit rock
Pretty standard 60s rock. Interesting enough to not get bored with, but that’s about it.
A solid album. Nothing to write home about though.
Thoughts before listening: 60s psychedelic era band that has more in common with the soul and r&b of those days than something like the Grateful Dead. This album makes all of the best albums of all time lists, and I like it well enough. "Alone Again Or" is one of my favorite songs ever. Review: This is a little more folky, pop rock mixed with psychedelic rock than the r&b I had remembered....more The Mamas and the Papas than Sly Stone. This is definitely a good album. As I mentioned, "Alone Again Or" is an all-timer of a song, and it kicks this thing off. I also love the next song "A House is Not a Motel" which adds psych guitar solos to the mix. Sometimes the album dips into a bit of a twee, maudlin territory with flitty string sections that doesn't really connect with me, but when this album hits its great. I'll give this 4-stars.
I always loved “Alone Again Or”. Not just the song, but the name too. I was intrigued by the way that the title is unfinished, without even an ellipsis at the end. It's a fantastically strange song. It starts with a gorgeous acoustic guitar riff, before moving into an unexpected almost flamenco sound. And when the horn comes in, it’s like a Mariachi song performed by flower-power hippies. I've listened to this album a lot in the past after being fully won over by the first track, but I never really had the same reaction to the rest of the record. Giving it another listen today, the second track is a lot better than I remembered. “A House Is Not a Motel" is a proper Californian 60s hippy tune, but under the surface it feels a bit ominous. The vocals are choppy and give off a nervous energy, and it's played in a minor key but at a quick upbeat tempo. And then when the electric guitar comes in towards the end, it feels fully dark. It also feels very modern. Which is a weird juxtaposition for an album that also sounds very distinctly like it came straight from the 60s hippy movement. There are moments, like during “Andmoreagain” and “You Set the Scene,” where the angular, syncopated acoustic guitar patterns make me think of the Dirty Projectors. The rest of the songs feel very fragmented in their structure, but they don’t always have enough melodic catchiness to pull me through those twists and turns. Which does make it a bit of a tough listen overall. Most of all, I just find it interesting how a band can sound so much like they're from 1967 and 2009 at the same time. I’ll probably revisit this one again in the future. I feel like I’m due a “eureka” moment that just hasn’t happened yet, so I’m a little undecided about the rating. Let’s say 3.5 Stars Or
i like to pop on love from time to time, but they feel like more of a greatest hits band to me. a few of those hits are on this album: “alone again or” and “maybe the people would be the time between clark and hilldale” hit right. the rest is pleasant enough, but has never grabbed me that hard. it’s a good listen, but doesn’t quite make the jump to classic.
Good ... Classic music good lyrics overall album was good
One of the best albums of all time
Remarkably this is new to me, but it's the sort of blind spot that this exercise is made for. Really enjoyed it
Lovely stuff RGP, great album, thank you for sharing. Also I didn’t know before starting the 1001 Project that “Forever Changes” was my second favourite album by Love. Three stars. Tom.
Pretty amazing psychedelic folk album. This is the kind of stuff this list is good for, little cult curios with great songwriting that actually stand the test of time. I don't really hear of this band outside of the two albums featured on the book, I even though they were British, as so many of the random artists here are, but turns out they're American. They don't sound very American to me! The list may be too heavy on this era of music, but at least once in a while, one of these records will be worthwhile. More of this, please! Key tracks: Alone Again Or Andmoreagain Maybe People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale
It's good. Worthy the shot to listen another album
Oh, great, another 60s band I've never heard of. The album is actually surprisingly good mellow 60s pop. The songs are hooky pop/rock numbers with a surprising amount of Spanish guitar influence. The lyrics are usually only okay, but that's not really a mark against this album. It's an enjoyable enough album, but I can't really find much to say about this one. So I guess it's yet another 3 for me in a streak of 4 3s so far. This album is ranked #12 of 29 albums for 1967. Other 1967 albums rated by me: Are You Experienced?(2/29)-5 The Doors(3/29)-4 Surrealistic Pillow(7/29)-3 Songs of Leonard Cohen(9/29)-4 Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim(10/29)-4
Twiddly dee twee
Psychedelic Pop/Baroque Pop/Psychedelic Rock/Folk Rock Favorite Songs : *All but three* Least Favorite Songs: Bummer in the Summer, although The Red Telephone and The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This can be interchanged. When I showed one of the songs to my Mom, she actually didn’t like it because she thought it was cheesy for her (The song was Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale). I however really liked the album, so much so that I’ve ended up ordering a CD for it. To make a quote on Wikipedia, “The songs reflected upon dark themes, such as paranoia, the Vietnam War, race issues in the US, societal breakdown, and the negative effects of drug use,” and I actually think they’ve fit the themes really well. I know that on this site, the ratings are typically lower than on Rate Your Music, but I’d definitely urge you to give it a couple of listens if you don’t feel it right the first time around. 9/10, but I’m rating this a 5 stars because 1.) I can’t stress enough to go listen to it, and 2.) Idk if this album will change overtime to become a 10/10.
6/10
Not my thing. At all.
682/1001 2026.08.18 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
not bad, some really good stuff
I’ve been meaning to take another listen of this album since I first did half a year ago, and I find I enjoy it just as much as before. The production is great, and I really enjoy what they’re going for. The songs themselves are okay. There’s a lot of word salad going on, and much of the songs fall under the same kind of 60s tropes. For the most part, it’s still a solid listen. Alone Again Or has got to be one of my favorite songs of all time.
Thought this was fine when I listened the first time while working,cthen fine the second time when I was driving to Tofino BC. Just fine. 3/5
One of those albums that my friend really loves and I should because this is my favorite era/ genre of music psychedelic pop/rock. However this album is more folky than psychedelic and takes a cynical look at the summer of love. It can be quite intense such as on "The Red Telephone" and also quite happy on the next song "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale". Yet even the happy songs have a subtle level of darkness and skepticism. 4.5/5
The Red Telephone and Alone Again Or are the heavy hitters here. The rest are perfectly fine but cannot reach the same levels as these songs.
Cool cover art! This sounds like an AI slop version of The Who.
Any band that was an influence on The Damned is ok by me.
nie do końca mój styl, parę dobrych kawałków, lowkey vibe ale jednak nie cos co bym wybrała na codzień
Like it!
I clooooose myyyy eyees, only for a momeeeent 🎶 Bardzo ta płyta przypomina mi Kansas, dobrze się tego słuchało, naprawdę miło. I to tyle.
Yet another album that I absolutely did not need to hear.
Good album nothing too crazy pretty mid
7.5/10
ARRANGIAMENTI OTTIMI. NON TROPPO FAN DEL CANTATO, CHE HA UN TONO HIPPIE. SONO FIGLIO DEL MIO TEMPO E NON SONO TROPPO FAN DELLA MUSICA ANNI ‘60. 3/5
Yep, born, in, the, wrong, fuckin, time... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fine
Arthur Lee, true genius, weird changes, cool brass, cool songs.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maybe its my mood again defo not enjoying this one. Like I get some of it but just not vibbing. One of those ones. I'm doing well to have finished every album so far this one bit of a close to DNF. 2 out of 5 think thats the default for didnt enjoy but not hated
I enjoyed this album, but nothing stood out to me enough to add it to my library. I feel neutral about this album.
Classic. During the lock downs it inspired me to finally buy a guitar again
I'd never heard of this band before but I recognized the opening track "Alone Again Or" (Must have been from the film "Sleepers" which I watched not too long ago or "Bottle Rocket" which I haven't seen in years) This was an enjoyable late 60's listen mostly acoustic with some electric guitar showing up here and there. Plus the use of horns added to the dynamics of some songs. I liked how some of the lyrics were a little darker preceding Black Sabbath with their songs about the end of the hippie generation. It got a little further into the psychedelia lyrics than I'm used to though. Another album that will most likely get better with repeated listens.
I'm feeling a little off today, and this didn't do a ton to help my mood. It's not really the album's fault, and maybe I need to re-listen to it somewhere down the line. A House Is Not A Motel and Bummer In The Summer were both pretty good.
4/5
Weird how Moody Blues they sound but like an improvement on that template. A bit samey throughout.
A not-bad collection of stereotypically hippie-ish psychedelic folk music. It's a cut above the usual, thanks to some verve in composition and execution. Pretty decent!
No me atrapó. No es malo. Buen rock. 1967, bastante piola para esa época. Pero no me llegó. 6/10
psychedelic. groovy. 60s.
I dint like it
not for me but not horrible
I really like the first track Alone Again Or because of The Damned covering it. The rest would need more time/exposure to grow on me I bet
Forever Changes by Love is a wonderful album that I've always enjoyed listening to. Musically, it's outstanding. The string arrangements are beautiful, the melodies are memorable, and the whole album has an effortless elegance about it. There's a psychedelic feel running throughout, and at times it reminds me of The Doors, although Forever Changes has a lighter, more orchestral sound that gives it its own identity. What impresses me most is how well everything fits together. Every song feels carefully crafted, and the album flows beautifully from beginning to end. It's thoughtful, melodic and packed with subtle details that reveal themselves the more you listen. I've always felt this album doesn't get quite the recognition it deserves. While it might not be as famous as some of its contemporaries from the late 1960s, it's every bit as good and has aged remarkably well. For me, it's one of the hidden gems of that era. Favourite tracks: "Alone Again Or" and "Andmoreagain" are both beautiful songs and the highlights of the album. Least favourite tracks: There really isn't a weak track here. Every song deserves its place. Album artwork: A very cool and instantly recognisable album cover that perfectly captures the psychedelic spirit of the music.
4 out of 5. This album is a fun listen.
A nice psychedelic album. Side A is amazing, but turning to side B, only "You Set the Scene" gives me any enjoyment. The fact that the writing on this album deviates from the textbook sunshine and rainbows of other 60s albums is a big plus. Everybody should hear the first six tracks, and the last one. The middle is skippable unless you like psych noodling and mindless lyrics.
foi pior do que eu esperava
eh bem hippie, mas de uma maneira meio dark, sei lá enfim, os arranjos são bons. as músicas são bem bonitas, até. não machuca ninguém e foi bacaninha!
Found it ok, not really my bag.
❤️
Album #124: Forever Changes - Love Genre (W): Folk rock, orchestral pop, psychedelia, baroque pop Singles: Alone Again Or / A House is Not a Motel, The Daily Planet / Andmoreagain, Your Mind and We Belong Together / Laughing Stock I have listened to this album once before. Thoughts?: I liked the arrangements a lot, but I found that a few songs were uninteresting and didn’t stick out to me. Decent album. Favorite tracks: A House Is Not a Motel, Old Man, The Red Telephone, Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale, Live and Let Live, You Set the Scene
I'm not much into hippie/psychedelia, but this wasn't so bad. Lovely and unique melodies and song structures and arrangements, thoughtful lyrics, decent vocals. Not too bad. Very indicative of the era.
More folk-influenced than Da Capo and I didn't enjoy it quite as much. The tracks that leaned towards a more orchestral sound were pretty good, but there were a few too many slow folk songs. Alone Again Or was the highlight for me.
was worried it just gonna be another beatles clone. its not, just pretty good psychedelic 60s pop.
Aware of this underrated gem, however even if I listened to this before, it feels a bit dense to spend a day on this album and rate it properly and objectively. Only was aware of the first song so far. Definitely at least 3, maybe even 4 stars. UPDATE: This is definitely the one that can keep growing if you just stay patient and soak it in slowly. More songs keep revealing themselves to me and going to my "Psychedelia" playlist. Every member of group has some bloody brilliant moments! So absolutely deserves 4 stars, and 3.5 or 4.0 on RYM, can't decide yet. Def one to REVISIT.
Did not leave an impression
It was alright
Nicely done. Some really good music.
The flamenco stuff was cool
Pretty near perfection. I’m having a hard time coming to terms with some people not liking it. Prey for me.
Sometimes I just have no idea what to say about a record on this list. Obviously, many many people think this is a classic work for genius. Ok. I have listened to it many times over the years, thinking this will be the time it clicks. Never happens. It's not bad. It just bores the daylights out of me. There's absolutely nothing interesting to me about these songs
Very much in the vain of Donovan. This is a folk/pop album in the flower power style. It has a slightly creepy feel. Not unlike when old men tell you stories about events that seem implausible and times that you know couldn't possibly have been like that. It has an overall hippy feel and 60s musical accompaniment feels just one step down from a type of medieval reenactment. I couldnt hear any Lutes or Shawm. But I have a feeling that Love might have bee happy to find a place for them in this album. (2.400)
One of my favourite lyrics of all time: Oh, the snot has caked against my pants It has turned into crystal There's a bluebird sitting on a branch I guess I'll take my pistol Genius = Arthur Lee
Felt abit like listening to Scott walker without the sauce, didn’t hate it by any means but wasn’t particularly grabbed either, strong decent.
Very nice
Really lovely album
seth - 4/5 logan - 2.5/5 a house is not a motel andmoreagain
Super super pretty album. It excites me everytime I get an album from the 60s on this list. Whatever was in the water during that time mustve been good, the classics from that decade are some of my fav. Loved the line where he wiped boogers on his pants and then waxed poetic about them crystallizing. The lyrics on this shit are so fucking goofy, I love it.
Obvious starts with a classic. Remains good in that 60s way but doesn't hit like track 1. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes, 96/358 (26%) Will I get: Already have
Pretty aweet
Excelente disco. Melodias e interpretações repletas de beleza lírica.
Groovy
Pleasant enough ambient music
Fine but just a bit dull
A classic album. Full of beautifully crafted songs. But rarely raises the blood pressure. 3*
The more 60s psychadelic rock i listen to the more it fascinates me. This was a pretty good album tho, i love the baroque influence
I wish I didn't speak English so I could listen to this album and enjoy it. The music is so beautiful. Can't tell if it's helped or hurt by the kinda muddy recording quality - kinda gives it a unique sound. The lyrics are so so awful. I don't think it's their fault - in the 60s the bottom fell out on lyrics. You could just say any bullshit and it was either "deep" or if it didn't make sense it was "psychadelic". "I think people are the greatest fun" - what the fuck does that mean? It's so nonspecific. I'm gonna write a song called "I like the taste of food most of all". All the rhyme schemes are A/A/A/A. "How do you feel? / I'll feel real phony when my name is Phil / Or was that Bill?" what the fuck does that mean and why does it sound like shit. Anyway 4 stars it's great.
I have already heard Da Capo, and I was really impressed. It showed that in '66, Love already had a greater understanding of psych and counter culture than most of the bands operating. But by the time Sgt. Pepper hit the scene, and the public was just starting to really get into counter culture, Love had already started seeing the shortcomings of the movement when it seemed like no one else did. Thus, we got Forever Changes, an album born out of turmoil in the band, and reflecting the turmoil in the world. The sound here is still pretty sunny, but some dramatic darkness starts creeping in, and is driven home with lyrics that were really addressing all of the problems that the hippie movement was really looking past, in favor of unchecked bacchanalia. Love chooses to address the Vietnam War, the racial tensions, the violence, and yet they still have songs here echoing a radical love for humanity that survives in the face of it all. Just listen to A House Is Not A Motel, Love *know* what's going on, and they are justly *mad*. But at the same time, Alone Again Or is such a genuinely optimistic song, and one that does not feel even a *little* niave. And when I'm considering this, I think it's possible that Forever Changes is one of the most successful realizations of what the hippie movement *could have* been. To speak for the songs themselves, the folkier execution here adds some really cool textures to the mix. And Love write in this palette with *tons* of pathos and manage to pull excellent, catchy songs out of it. And at any point this could become too saccharine, they always incorporate something to counter-balance it. I think Live And Let Live may be the best example of this. I really don't think there's a bad song here. While I'd typically give an album a few more listens before going for the 5, the collision of the sounds and themes of this is just *super* powerful. I legitimately think it's one of the best psych/sunshine pop albums out there.
Interesting blend of psychedelia and folk, Bryan MacLean’s contributions are key to Arthur Lee and Love’s best.
Surprised I had never heard of them - enjoyed it
Pretty solid overall
On Spotify the last song came up with no lyrics so I was like “what is this some rap songs” and then lyrics appeared and I dropped my phone
Textbook British mfs rambling over soft rock
Nothing but Video not available. Unable to listen to it.
I know and like the first song
Had to give it a few listens to fully get into it and fully appreciate it. Took me a while to fully decide just how much I liked it.
Psychedelic rock? Hmm as far as I can tell it is neither of these. I would describe it as “folk pop jangle” Whatever it is, I think I like it! Some catchy tunes up front followed by some well written orchestral arrangements in the second half. Definitely worth a second listen.
I’ve always loved this time/genre, but of the so called great albums of the era this is the one I’ve always struggled with the most. Undeniably it’s got a lovely laid back consistent vibe to it, but perhaps that’s its undoing, it’s psyche/folk (vaguely pop) schtick doesn’t hit home that hard (against it’s contemporaries), and it is definitely lacking in standout tracks. But cor, that vibe, I think it just scrapes in into a 4*.
It’s alright
Maybe it was really original for the time. The vocals kind of sucked but the varied instrumentals made up for it
I had fun until I didn’t and then I did
It’s crazy how many albums there are from the 60’s on this list. I enjoyed this one more than I thought. 3.8 stars
I loved the trip down 60’s psychedelia. I didn’t save anything though
zzzzzzzzzz
Pretty good for rock
If this is your thing, I'm sure it's great. Most of the music blends together for me and was only vaguely interesting. I liked some moments here and there but for the most part I was bored by this record. I don't see myself revisiting. I could just be fatigued by this style of rock, but I am not sure when I would find myself enjoying it.
Classic Rock, little bit of Beatles style harmonizing and junk like that, fairly vanilla sounding rock for the 60s. Not bad, not amazing either.
really nice listen, would definitely listen again
I don’t know what people thought of Forever Changes by Love back in 1967, but it did absolutely nothing for me. Maybe I’m just hitting my limit with the sheer number of ‘60s albums on the 1001 Albums list, because they all seem to blur together after a while. It’s possible this record hits differently if you actually lived through that era, but I didn’t.
I was fully expecting another drab 60s psychedelia album, but got a rich tapestry with substantial string arrangements and a mellow vibe that kept me listening. Some of the lyrical content and delivery was the low point, but it was otherwise a surprisingly agreeable ride. If this was a pure instrumental album though, it would have been infinitely more enjoyable.
Skide god baroque pop og psykedelisk rockplade som åbenbart også har noget mexicansk genre indeover sig som hedder mariachi hvor den blander distinktiv lyd med høj og skarpe lyde med lave og rige toner. Den skilder sig åbenbart ud fra mængden i sin tid med andre af de store plader i 67, fordi den er sådan lidt mere melankolsk og mørk som også gør den tidsløs. Den var forud for sin tid, den var hippie men ikke alt det bright men mere mørkt. Jeg nød faktisk den her plade rigtig meget og langt mere end hvad jeg havde forventet, men jeg kan åbenbart bare godt lide strygere og horn. Det der overraskede mig mest var, hvor meget det ikke nødvendigvis lød som noget fra 60'erne, jeg synes nærmest det lyder som noget der kunne være lavet i dag. Var ude og bade med svenskerne og bois og havde besøg af Ol fra Aarhus da jeg lyttede til det sådan ordentlig og det var en virkelig god dag nede ved kalvebodbrygge hvor jeg lyttede til det på vej hjem for at game med de andre til sent på aftenen. God dag
Psychedelic folk chamber pop, what a fantastic surprise from a band literally named Love!
This album suffers from sounding dated all these years later, when at it's time it was so different
Rock, 1967 -> 3
5 stars. Outstanding.
This album was decent, 7/10.
Favorite song: Alone Again Or
The compositional pieces and additional instrumentation elevate the music beyond what a lot of other albums were doing at the time. Unfortunately the tracks themselves just aren't super interesting so it was very middling.
fav songs: old man psychedelic, lushy, melancholic 40/100
hm dit is wel leuk ik denk ik ken track 2 het is beetje saai… oooh track 7 meer groove
gwn oké
I honestly thoroughly enjoyed this album. It's definitely a little dated, but it's still so well executed that that criticism can be easily overlooked. Not all the songs land, but a lot of them do. I especially enjoyed the opening 3 songs, "Maybe the People....", and "Bummer In The Summer"
i enjoyed the vibe of this album
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Near Perfect - An absolute classic. This sounds like nothing else. There is an otherworldly sound to this mix of acoustic guitars with orchestration and gently insistent drums. The songs are uniformly stunning. Great from start to finish but the first side in particular is wonderful.
Enjoyed the psych 60s sound. Probably not something I’ll come back to be it was good background music for my reading time today.
meh
okö das schiint sochli es album z sii wo mega legendär isch aber damals nöd so beachtig gfunde het. bis etz gsehni nöd meeega fest wases isch aber han nöd soo spass. the daily planet isch cool. old man mega cooli chords. ich find er singt nöd so super. nöd so fest e performance. okay the red telephonr isch viel meh e story sehr cool.
freu michhhh OMG d trumpete het s lied gad uf es anders level bracht es passiert meh als mehr vlt erwartet, hans gfühl das isch es album zum mehrmals lose finds bis jz aber reeecht cool hmmm s isch denn doch villes ah mier verbii aber muss es umbedingt nomal lose ich hans easy gern jz au bim 2. mal lose, es het natürlich de 60er-sound und het e gwüssi atmorpshäre, wo ich gar nöd weiss, was jch draa gern han. aber s isch cool
Nah
Enjoyed
I've heard a few singles here and there from Love, but I never listened to a full album of theirs until now. Boy, is there a story with this one. The making of Forever Changes was wrought with so many conflicts, both within the band as members fought each other for songwriting credit and contributions, and with their label Elektra Records, which wanted them to get one more album done, go in a folk direction, and keep it to a single album only so as not to pay too much for the strings and horns. With the help of the Wrecking Crew session musicians, known for their work on many top hits of the 1960s, Love were able to eke out this album. It's a miracle this record sounds as good as it does. In trying for that folk direction, Love ended up making an orchestral pop album. The rich guitars blend with the string arrangements in striking and twisting turns, alongside the solid rhythm section. There are some genuinely amusing compositions here and there, such as the flamenco styling of "Alone Again Or", the ripping improvised guitar solo on "A House is Not a Motel", those elegant strings swirling around the vocals on "Old Man", the subtle harpsichord motif on "The Red Telephone", the Latin-esque shuffle beat and blaring horns on "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale", and the shifting tempos on "You Set the Scene". All the while, Arthur Lee and Bryan MacLean took turns singing about the world's decadence, in full disillusionment with the counterculture of the time. The isolation felt in "Alone Again Or", the war-torn veteran's diatribe on "A House is Not a Motel", the state of confusion on "Andmoreagain", the monotony of everyday work life on "The Daily Planet", the dissociation of self through the use of psychedelics on "The Red Telephone", the full-blown outright questioning of actions taken during the flower power movement on "You Set the Scene" as the inevitability of death loomed large. It's a lyrically depressing record with such brimming instrumentation, akin to another cult classic album, The Zombies' Odyssey and Oracle. However, I think what keeps me from outright loving this record is its incongruency. This album goes from one sonic idea to the next without a throughline connecting them, making for an uneven listen that's at least bookended well. It does feel like it was a double album cut down due to budget constraints. Also not helping matters are shortcomings in the lyrics, such as how underwritten "The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This" is, and "Live and Let Live" with its admittedly cringeworthy description of the protagonist's gun-toting defensive posture. Still, I enjoyed Forever Changes with its grandiose orchestral pop sensibilities. Unfortunately, once this album was completed, Bryan MacLean would leave the band, and Arthur Lee would dismiss the other members. Love would continue with Lee and a revolving door of musicians, and reformed later with guitarist Johnny Echols. The band would never be the same again after this record.
Alone Again Or A House Is Not a Motel Andmoreagain The Red Telephone You Set the Scene
Alone again or - 4 A house is not a motel - 3 Andmoreagain - 2 The daily planet - 3 Old man - 3 The red telephone - 3 Maybe the people would be the times or between clark and hilldale - 3 Live and let live - 3 The good humor man he sees everything like this - 3 Bummer in the summer - 3 You set the scene - 3
I expected 60's pop, but it was a little funkier/ dirtier than the name had me believe. I won't listen to this again.
Okay to listen to in the background while I work.
Second album proposé après 'Da Capo' que j'avais apprécié (noté 3/5 - accompagnement intéressant mais chant pas terrible). Ce second album me semble moins original : plus pop/rock que le précédent, pas d'approche jazzy, moins de chorus ... Bref, aucune envie de l'écouter de nouveau. =>2/5
Arthur Lee!!! So underrated. I adore Love and Lee's weirdness. Put this straight in my veins.
What a fascinating forgotten artifact of the ‘60s. Such beautiful arrangements. And I love that the lyrics were clearly poems Arthur Lee had written and just set to music. I can’t think of any other album from its time that I could compare it to, which is cool!
For some reason this album and group has been a blind spot for me, which doesn't make any sense because they are highly reputable, although not as successful, folk psych band of the late 60s. But this was really a great treat. I think one of the things I like about this is that it's a highly deceptive album in that it kind of captures the bright sunny part of folks like that was really big in 67, but this comes out at the end of 67 and where this doesn't musically get darker as psych would I 68, it lyrically gets darker, most notably on "Live at Let Live". The lead character, who considers himself a snot pants kid, has to immediately grow up and go to war. Great imagery albeit somewhat gross. But the two songs I want to mention most which were my favorites of the album for their great folk pop writing, (with touches of Psych as decoration). They are the two Brian McLean songs. He's a name that I had heard before. I had to rack my brain and then I remembered that he is Maria McKee's half-brother, who also wrote possibly my favorite Lone Justice song "Don't Toss Us Away". I had known that he was a songwriter but I did not realize that he was in the band Love. And it's great to know that the familial inspiration of one of my absolute favorite artists from the late '80s and throughout the 90s, is to me the highlight of this album. I love Love! (9.8) ★★★★½
Nice album, but not my absolute favourite style of this era. 4 stars
I tried to get into this album many times after hearing the praise heaped on it, but I don't fully get it. It starts off good with "Alone Again Or" and "A House is Not a Motel", but much of the album is this baroque pop sound I don't really want from them. I miss the fuzzed out garage rock of "Seven & Seven Is". 3.5 stars.
Not quite ‘Love Forever Changes’. More ‘Like Forever Changes. There are some lush elements here although the mariachi ones aren’t to my taste and the singing is a bit weak throughout. Poetry also hit and miss. (“Oh, the snot has caked against my pants). I’d probably rather opt for their debut which at least has My Little Red Book which is a bigger bop than anything on here and whose riff went on to inspire Pink Floyd’s massive trippy crucial 60s counter-cultural touchstone Interstellar Overdrive.
I don't know if "Forever Changes" is the first psychedelic album. What I do know for a fact is that it's good. "Forever Changes" has aged fairly well. There isn't a single rubbish song on "Forever Changes". However, that doesn't mean it's a classic. 3 stars for "Forever Changes".
I feel like I've heard of the band called "Love" but upon looking at their Wikipedia info and their top songs on Spotify - I don't recognize any of these based on the titles. So maybe I am confusing them with someone else - maybe the band called "Free". Don't know. Thoughts after listening 3 times... Was surprised that not one of these songs rang a bell. I figured there must have been at least 1 that had entered my consciousness at some point. Sometimes in parts of this it kinda reminded me of The Kinks and sometimes the Moody Blues - but the songs are generally not near as good as those bands. I found most of this rather generic and forgettable with barely any standout moments - musically, vocally, lyrically. I can easily come up with a list of hundreds of albums that are better than this that did not make this list. Wow - I just noticed that there is another Love album on this website. Maybe that one is better?? I did end up "liking" 2 songs - "A House is Not a Hotel" (the guitar part in this was pretty cool) and "The Daily Planet" (good vibe) - but each of them were just "ok" and not "great" songs. Liked songs on Spotify: 2/11 Rating: 1/5
I had heard the name Arthur Lee but was not familiar with his music or that of Love. This sounds kind of generic '60s-rock-ish to me and none of the songs really grabbed me. Didn't hate it but didn't love it and barely liked it. "Bummer in the Summer" was my favorite song and almost sounded like proto-hip-hop. On most other days I would have given this a 2, but having just given a 2 to an electronica (!) album yesterday I feel like I have to give this a 3. But it is a very WEAK 3.
Solid and interesting enough, but some of the lyrics were really stupid.
One of my favourite albums of all time
Album #2 from Love for me. Apparently I had De Capo as one of my first albums from the list. All I remember is Seven and Seven is but rated it the album a 3 at the time. This kind of softer 60s psychedelic rock is not really my thing although there are some good parts on this record. Some interesting guitar parts here and there. And super solid drumming. But I'm not really sure why this was an album we all need to hear. I mean it's a great example of the genre I suppose. Pretty typical for the era and the style which I guess is something. But I don't think I'd ever play this again. 2.75/5
Very Stonesy at times, a bit Dylan at others. Entirely listenable but far from blowing me away
Hippy shit all day yes please.
I was familiar with the first track on the album. The rest was pretty boring. I don't need to listen to it again. 2/5
4.4/5 Favorite Songs: Alone Again Or A House Is Not A Motel Andmoreagain Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale. Live And Let Live
Almost a snoozefest...but not quite...just kind of boring. Alas, my favorites were Alone Again Or and You Set the Scene. 2.75 rounded down to 2.
Another psychedelic rock/pop album from this 60s group. Why there are two albums from them in generator i'll never know because they are very similar and very mid.
Groovy. Even if you’ve never heard this recording when some says “hippie music” this album is what you’re thinking of. I will give them a lot of credit for audacity and bravado. Just to open the album with the sprawling unique Alone Again Or took huge brass balls. The rest of the album doesn’t necessarily pay off on the promise of that song, but most of the songs are vaguely interesting if at times a bit silly.
Now I know where that song from Bottle Rocket comes from! The songs on this album vary in quality, overall not a very solid album.
Classic
I didn't love this. I'll be forever changing from this to a different album.
Definitely made in the late 60s
Fine
Alone again or, a house, maybe the people
I generally don't like the music of the hippie era and all the age of aquarius nonsense. So when I realized that's what this album was, I settled in for a slog of a listen.. But I am happy to say this album wasn't terrible It isn't going into regular rotation for me, but it's lacks some of the self righteousness and melodrama of other hippie music.
Started out boring and only got worse
Really liked . Good solid album
скучно скучно
A psychedelic album with actual charm. I've grown to hate the genre as a whole because there's so much dross in there, but this is pretty solid.
I knew the first track, the rest were kinda just there.
A great slide of psychedelia. I'm not into drugs myself, but I appreciate psychedelic rock in the same way I appreciate decisions by the Beatles and The Beach Boys to attempt something more than love songs. You can go in just about any direction as long as you go far out. I can't say I loved every track but I liked most of them. The first track would be a banger in any era... it almost feels like it could have been a track by the Decemberists or The Shins or other recent indie artists with a bit of a psychedelic sensibility.
505/1089 - This is pretty good. I can't decide between a 5 or a 4 as the singing and orchestral parts are pretty sloppy and the energy is lacking but the actual songs themselves are really unique and interesting. The Damned has a really cool Goth Rock version of Alone Again Or that I recommend.
Two good albums back to back!! I fell to my knees because it’s been a doozy of ass music the past few days. This one just felt good to listen to, perfect for a sunny bike ride through the city. The strings were out of this world and I need this on vinyl because I’m an insufferable hipster.
Not a bad track
I had Da Capo (1966) from Love already. Maybe I was a little harsh back then. I initially wrote Love off as a Doors knock-off, which I still kind of stand by. At least with their earlier album. But Forever Changes shows us something new. Guitars abound (acoustic and electric), along with a diverse range of cool textures/instrumentation to keep everything sounding fresh and interesting. Lots of cool chords, too. Harmonies like these are pretty much a prerequisite for any "great" album. Alone Again Or, at the very least, packs a solid punch with its aggressive-yet-pleasant acoustic guitar and wide selection of orchestral instruments, ranging from violins to (what sounds like) a whole brass section. That guitar reminds me of Mrs Robinson. No doubt it was an inspiration here. A House Is Not A Motel continues the heavy use of guitars, this time adding a pretty solid electric part to the mix towards the end. I wish it hadn't faded out in the middle of the solo – how was it going to finish?! – but a rock-solid song nonetheless. The next two, Andmoreagain / The Daily Planet, both make use of blurry, spirited acoustic guitars. We don't particularly catch a break with a lower-energy track until the balladesque Old Man, but the song also is just kind of weak. At least until 1:50 when the other instruments burst onto the scene. Great piano countermelody. The Red Telephone does this whimsical fairytale style a little better, though. So much life bursting from a song that is pretty simple on paper. Later songs like Bummer In The Summer and Live And Let Live don't stand out as much, on account of the vocals being a little weaker, but the instrumentation more than makes up for it. All in all, not a single weak song here. Award for dumbest song title goes to Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale. Don't get me wrong – the song sounds great – but how the heck am I supposed to tell my friends about it? 4/5 Key tracks: Alone Again Or, The Red Telephone, Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale
Some very good writing on this album with tasty orchestral accompaniment. But, it’s a fairly inconsistent effort. Some tunes just fall flat. I think the turmoil within the band kept them from being huge. Nevertheless, a significant album and one I love to listen to occasionally, if only to wonder what could have been.
Malo mi je lejm album, a čak sam i očekivala da bi moglo biti okej kad sam krenula slušati. Jbg. 2/5, 4/10
kind of intriguing. their sound is similar to some of their peers and yet it has a strong identity. impressive Would I listen again: yeah, i'm interested Deserves to be on this list: well, I never heard of them before now, so... 3.7
Ok
Ok I can see what they’re capable of… still not a super strong showing.
4/5. Psych rock and psych folk were both very overexposed genres in the late 60’s, so how did the band “Love” manage to stand out with this album? Simple, by actually writing good songs. which a lot of bands from that scene kinda forgot to do at the time. whether that be folk rock bangers like “Maybe the people would be the times…” or slower but equally catchy songs like the album closer “You set the scene.” This was a relisten for me, but enjoyed it just as much as I always have.
Day880 - i was expecting some sixties music that sounds like ten other sixties albums and boom that’s what i got
what am i even listening to? What genre is this just a bunch of everything and nothing
I listened to this one twice and didn't come away with much at all. The folk-y aspect definitely places it on the outside of my usual bubble, and some of the singing got pitchy at times. Some cool chord progressions every now and then made sure it was at least not a cookie cutter album, as did the occasional inclusion of strings and brass.
no it’s good for sure it just sort of sounds like a parody of a popular album from the late 70s :p kinda miss the hard swag they were showing on their second album
This is the first album where I worry I just didn't get enough time with it. On first listen, I thought "this is alright but I don't get the praise." But as I stuck with it, I did start to get the softer and more disquieted approach to psychedelia even if it didn't change my overall rating much. I think it's totally possible that in a few more months, I'll look back on this 3 star rating and be horrified at how low I've rated a masterpiece. But it just hasn't fully clicked yet.
Love it. Own it.
not for me
Such a great opening track, "Alone Again Or" - amazing late 60s. Such a unique blend of psychedelic rock and orchestral elements. The brass section is pure bliss.
Not much for the psychedelic stuff.
Another Love album. Da Capo was alright from what I remember...except for the 18 minute track. Nah homie. First Listen, the opening track Alone Again Or is a great start. The supporting trumpet was soooo good. The track A House Is Not a Motel was a great follow up; especially that guitar solo in the end. So far the album is offering me something preferable than the previous album Da Capo. Though, if I can get another 'Seven and Seven'-esque track, I'll be very happy. I can't explain why I didn't like their last album compared to this one. Perhaps the more dark and melancholic vibes. Highlight of the album, The Red Telephone encapsulates this album pretty well. It's not my favourite but it represents this album. I think the orchestral arrangements (if that's what I'm hearing) is really doing something for me. It's like I'm moving back and forth while listening to some of the tracks; MTPWBTTOBCAH (holy smokes that name) is a good example of this. Overall, this album is an improvement and matches my tastes pretty well. The orchestral and psychedelic elements do so much for the folk rock. The chorus and vibe of the tracks are worth noting too. Way way way better than Da Capo. T3: MTPWBTTOBCAH, Alone Again Or, Andmoreagain
La instrumentalidad es perfecta, no es el estilo de algo que escucharia a menudo pero en cuanto a calidad es top 8/10
Album #166 Love: Forever Changes One of those weird little gems of an album. I feel like bands from the 60s, other than a handful, tend not to appeal to modern audiences. Of course, you have The Beatles, Beach Boys, Doors, etc and all of the bands which have been cemented in musical canon. But for every Velvet Underground, there are a thousand forgotten bands that have slipped under the radar. Love, for all intents and purposes, should be one of those bands. They weren’t exactly unique, rather just one of many psychedelic pop bands coming out of the Laurel Canyon scene in California, and their first two albums really didn’t make any waves. However, Forever Changes is proof that quality will rise to the top regardless of who produces it. I always associate this album with The Zombies ‘Odyssey and Oracle, two 60s pop albums from groups that otherwise didn’t receive universal acclaim, which are today considered some of the best of the era. Forever Changes is undoubtedly one of the best Psychedelic albums of all-time, and I’m saying that while listening to it incredibly sober. It has a folksy feel to it, and the vocals are really soft and endearing; it presents a completely different trip than the one you would induce while listening to a harder psychedelic band like The Doors. An album like this really does make me wonder, however, if there was anything else equally as great produced at the time that just slipped through the cracks. Best Songs: Alone Again Or, Andmoreagain, You Set the Scene Worst Song: Bummer in the Summer Score out of 10: 9
Ok. Pretty average.
Det her er grunden til at være med i projektet. Komplet ukendt for mig, men lige min smag.
cute and calming
I can't help but be a little disappointed by this. Too Beatles-esque and just overall sort of boring though there were some really nice melodies and it wasn't bad
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
way better than my anti 60's bias would have thought, decent listen
Liked the orchestral elements the most. Good album overall but I don't think it sets itself apart from other albums released at the time. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
idk ich dachte es wird richtig geil sein aber es war alles irgendwie nicht so meins. Bisschen langweilig teilweise.
I have such a powerful sense of dread when I open this website and see some psychedelic shit from the late 60s. Hard to overcome it. You know what though? This was entirely not bad. It was even a little bit good
This album is relative for one reason Alone again or Other than that it’s great in certain areas but it’s just not ear catching, enjoyable, not all bits but doesn’t really make an impact to me. Maybe I’m wrong or missing something..
There are albums that many consider great, but you just don't understand them. This Love record is one of those for me. As often happens, it was a sales flop at the time and even led to the band's disbandment, but decades later, music lovers have remembered it and elevated it to cult status. I heard a late-'60s hippie sound here — yes, interesting orchestral arrangements, sometimes an unusual mix of Western folk rock and Eastern influences, a hint of flamenco, but seems like many people were making similar music better at the time. Although, off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone whose acoustics sounded so psychedelic. Good, but not brilliant.
Maybe everything that was wrong with late 60s rock?
Grand
it's hard not to see why Forever Changes is viewed as such a consummate musical statement by its most loyal adherents. it's a kind of crossroads, where everything you love about the best rock music of the 60s gets rolled together into an incredibly slick package. witty, unpredictable compositions; equally witty lyricism depicting the end of the flower-power years as a loss of one's own sanity, often delivered in gorgeous harmony; a satisfying mix of acoustic and electric guitars; and most importantly, the strings and brass, which always serve Love's songs and performances, never getting in their way. a lot of critical talk around this LP talks about how it's a grower, not a shower; my first impressions of it are already very strong, so hopefully it doesn't take long! decent 8/10.
This album starts of with a classic. Alone Again Or has always been a great song. However nothing else on the album comes close to matching. Most of the rest is pretty uninspiring with some of the worst lyrics ever put on record.
I’m a sucker for orchestral elements
1001 albums to hear before you forever change to dust 98# yap, im all on it its great, i love Love.
there's not a lot to love here and way better 60's albums to have on this list...
fairly forgettable but fun Best Song: Alone Again Or Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3
"A House is Not a Motel" was the only valid to me.
Just the kind of jangly late sixties stuff I usually love, but it didn’t really hit for me.
no se destaca en nada, ni para bien ni para mal
Too folky
Between this record, "The United States of America," and "Vincebus Eruptum," this is the week of surprisingly good experiemental albums of the 60s for me. While this wasn't quite as inventive as "United States" in my opinion, I still thought the music was interesting and often beautiful. There were a few duds here and there, but overall quite interesting and enjoyable. 4/5.
This was completely new to me. When I read that some called this the American response to the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, it spiked my interest. I ended up listening three times through, and though I was able to find more appreciation with each listen, I think that comparison is a gross overstatement. The songs are strong with a high level of musicianship -- featuring some great guitar playing and vocal harmonies... but I wouldn't be able to name a specific song that stuck out to me. And this is a great example of how the 5 star rating system here is really inadequate. I liked this album more than some of the albums I rated 3 stars, but nowhere near as much as REM Green which I gave 4 (which would be a high 4 at that). And so we find this relegated to the ocean of threes.
A cool, colorful experience. Definitely worthy of returning to at some point. 1 listen
Expectation: -> No clue. Only a pre-internet band would name themselves Love. After listening: -> Listened to the 2015 remaster on Spotify. I am definitely a fan of baroque rock/pop. Some of this was very good. Perhaps this band/album influenced more modern artists who put out more memorable tunes. Why is andmoreagain one word? Why on The Red Telephone do they find the name Phil problematic? Questions that will probably remain unanswered. This is very close to a 4 for me. Track ranking: Alone Red Old House Amdmoreagain Live Humor Maybe Scene Bummer Planet
not really up my alley here.
late 60s artsy rock from one of the biggest names on elektra records... or at least that's what i've read, anyways. it came out around the same time as other big name albums that exhibited music in similar genres, but it has a weird little mood all its own, not as overtly joyous or colorful. big focus on guitars, tinny little drumbeats, folk influences, spanish-sounding horns... there's frankly a lot in terms of how the record sounds, and quite a bit when it comes to the lyrics too. it's a very dreamy and unique sound, and some of the tracks honestly took me by surprise. another one that could be classified as a hidden gem, especially from this era? i don't know, that's up to you. this album sounds like the wiggles but sadder.
There's a moment where this album touches on an almost mythic feeling of importance, and it comes somewhere in "Andmoreagain." The rest of this album seems to be searching for that same peak, sometimes nearing it, other times wandering down into the valleys. It's competent and quality rock music overall, with just that touch of greatness. I'll probably come back to this one.
It’s alright, nothing really stood out to me
Some songs caught my attention. Compositionally great, but not consistently great.
tengo cero idea de música así que no puedo decir mucho pero realmente me encantó.
Hook me up to sunny days listening to Forever Changes.
Hard album to rate because most of the songs felt dated, BUT I really really liked a few songs - especially "Maybe the People..." Overall, just ok though.
Now this album truly surprised me. Coming in and breaking the 9 day streak of adding 0 songs to my frequent Spotify rotation is “Forever Changes” by Love. Love. That’s the band name?? Never heard of them. This album hits a sweet spot genre wise of some of my favorite genres and time periods. A 60’s era psychedelic rock album happens to be exactly what I’m looking for. There are approximately 2 songs I don’t love because of the singer being weird, notably “Andmoreagain” and “Live and Let Live”, but the rest of the album is great. The psychedelic licks are a little few and far between, but when you get them, it’s pretty great. The little yell the lead singer does that leads into a trippy solo in “A House Is Not a Motel” has to easily be my favorite song on the album, and is good enough to be added to my frequent Spotify rotation. Finally, the bot has not been feeding me anything replayable lately. If there’s something I would consider my least favorite part of this album, it actually is the lead singers voice. If I loved it, this album might get a 5 from me. It’s not bad, but he does make a few songs worse with his lyrics. They’re a little bizarre over the course of the entire album and never really make sense. But if I focus more on the music itself, I can look past it enough to give this album a very low 4. I’m satisfied with that. This is the first of 2 Love albums I have rolled for this project, and a very impressive first showing from this one. Yet another band I’ve never heard of before getting multiple inclusions on the bot. If I didn’t love this album, I’d complain more about that, but this time it gets a pass. I may even go back and give this one a 3 at some point, it’s the best thing I’ve rolled in several days, but I also haven’t exactly been rolling heat lately, so we’ll see. I don’t know if I’m truly satisfied with a 4, but it would have been a pretty hard decision to rank this one to begin with. It just happens to perfectly fall into the category of genres that I enjoy listening to, with very few exceptions. Best aspect, the music. Worst aspect, the singer. But even he’s not terrible, so I can look past it. It’s a 4 for now, but I still don’t know if I’m actually cool with that. We’ll see if it stays that way, but it’s liable to change later.
Whatever? I probably won't remember this in a week
One of those dumb 60s folk type albums. Like the Birds, it's just boring
This has a couple of bright spots that make it feel more than just another average 60s album but not enough to make it. Good.
This album has a really strong start, the string and horns elevate a lot of the songs, and makes you forget that the singer isn't that good. As the album goes on, the song writing gets worse and exponentially more lame. Mid 3.
I loved the sound of this initially, but around the halfway point it got stagnant and the back half just blended together.
3.0 - Ok
Undervurdert!
Høyrt gjennom dette nokre gonger no. Likar det. 3.5
What kind of middling Hippie bullshit is this? Is this Satire? Is there a song on here that resembles a hit? Anyone? Hello?
The music was decent overall, the lyrics were terrible. I especially loved the visual of his snot caking on his pants. This album was very reminiscent of The Byrds. Some highlights but overall not great. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
I truly feel like I’m missing something when i listen to this album. I get the feeling that the band is trying to tell a story with these songs that I’m not seeing or comprehending. It almost feels like the soundtrack to a movie like Puff The Magic Dragon that is providing musical commentary as the illustrations walk through the storyboard. Maybe I’m crazy but every song is playful in nature, has tempo changes within that would match character conflict, and has interludes where the lyricist stops while the music continues in an upbeat, yet staccato nature. I can’t tell you exactly why I liked this, but I did.
Sure, it’s fine. 60s psychedelic with a folksy feel. I enjoyed it but I won’t be back for seconds.
This was really good. 60s folk with a hippie psychedelic vibe. Some really good grooves here. The lyrics fail them a bit, ,but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt by writing it off to 60s hippie vernacular I'm not quite hip to.
Maybe its just this album is too basic for me? I can understand many of the arrangements, styles and whatnot that were used in this album could have been new, innovative or niche by their standards. But listening to it on 2026 after a lifetime of albums where artists try to one-up each other with new techniques, new vocals, new samples, new everything... This just does not hit the mark for me. There are some solos and powerful political messages I really liked in one or two songs, but that's it.
This was a lot better than a lot of the sixties albums on this. I will give a 3
I like this style of music fine, but this album didn’t stand out to me.
10/10 - I really loved this album. It grew on me on every listen. There's so much to this album, I can't wait to listen more intently in a dark room while reading the lyrics ===Update=== I continuously keep coming back to this. Bumped from a 9/10 (4) to a 10/10 (5). This one is sticking with me for a while ===/update=== Fav Tracks: The Red Telephone, Alone Again Or Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅
I only heard this for the first time a few years ago, and loved it. Not quite a five star album for me, but packed with ideas, good vocals, lyrics, musicianship, and songs. Definitely a firing on all cylinders album. I don't think it has the staying power for me personally, and a few years on there's only a few songs still on my regular rotation car playlist, cut down from almost the full album at one point.
Soft sound, very hippy 60s sound. Sounds like smelling flowers in a field.
Interesting, but not one I'm reaching back to
New it me band! Easy listening album, lead singers voice and the musical sounds remind me of the Beatles. I added a couple of songs to my random songs list and enjoyed the album overall. Happy listening!
It lacked variety for me
Absolute classic album
Fantastic album
banger, on repeat, luv!
Cool classic psychedelic rock.
No fav song
Beautiful. Positively so. This is what I want from an album on this website. It’s colorful, lush, sensitive, kind, and very aware. Arthur Lee is a spectacular vocalist, and kind of a genius, especially on songs such as “A House Is Not A Motel,” which has some of the best lyrics of the sixties. And though his accent doesn’t shine through much, when it does on songs like “Old Man” it elevates the experience. The lyrics really bring a conscious, nuanced perspective on the world that you don’t see super often in this time period. I rarely relate to albums from before the 70s, but this is an easy exception, just because of how well written it is. And the instrumentation… the strings, and the guitar, and the exceptional drum work too. Overall this is damn near perfect, and might go up to a 10 after future listens. It’s just so good. 9.7/10
Psychedelic acoustic is a new genre for me, but I dig it. A little mellow counterculture. I haven't listened to much of Love, but I enjoyed this album and would check out more. A unique sound for sure.
"There’s a bluebird sitting on a branch I guess I’ll take my pistol I’ve got it in my hand Because he’s on my land" Based.
i loveeee
Love's earlier "Little Red Book" is to me one of the best songs of the mid-60s, with its insistent beat and emotional vocals. So I was looking forward to more like that on here, but this one didn't quite hit like that. The first track with its mariachi-like trumpet got my attention, the vocals throughout are good, the rhythm section is compelling, and the occasional guitar solo works. My toes are tapping. So most of it was pretty enjoyable, but it was mostly much lighter, kinda Donovanesque, than what I'd hoped for. I'd say that "Bummer in the Summer" is the standout track on this one for me. 3 stars
I listened to the album twice, but I found it underwhelming. Some melodies where good, but overall, the songs seemed repetitious.
# Forever Changes (1967) by Love: An In-Depth Review ## Overview Released in November 1967, *Forever Changes* stands as one of the most extraordinary achievements of the 1960s psychedelic era—and paradoxically, one of its darkest. Created by the Los Angeles band Love during a period of intense internal strife and heavy drug use, the album captures the moment when the optimism of the Summer of Love began to curdle into something more complex and unsettling. Frontman Arthur Lee envisioned it as his own requiem, convinced he was about to die. The result is a record that Rolling Stone ranks #40 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and which the UK Parliament declared the greatest album of all time in 2002 . --- ## Lyrics: Poetry of Paranoia and Transcendence Arthur Lee's lyrics on *Forever Changes* operate in a dreamlike, stream-of-consciousness mode that is simultaneously surreal and startlingly direct. Unlike the flower-power platitudes of many contemporaries, Lee confronted the darkness beneath the surface of 1967's utopian moment. **Key thematic elements:** - **Mortality and impermanence**: The album is suffused with death imagery. In "The Red Telephone," Lee sings with detached calm: *"Sitting on a hillside / Watching all the people die / I'll feel much better on the other side"* . The closing epic "You Set the Scene" confronts death directly: *"This is the only thing that I am sure of / And that's all that lives is gonna die"* . - **War and societal collapse**: "A House Is Not a Motel" contains perhaps the album's most chilling Vietnam-era lyric: *"The news today will be the movies for tomorrow"*—a prescient observation about media's transformation of tragedy into entertainment . - **Reincarnation and free will**: Songs like "Andmoreagain" explore whether we control our destinies or are locked into unalterable patterns, with Lee suggesting transcendence comes through accepting life's contradictions . - **The absurd and grotesque**: Lee's lyrics often veer into deliberately jarring territory. "Live and Let Live" features the notorious line: *"Oh, the snot has caked against my pants / It has turned into crystal"*— imagery that divides listeners between those who find it visionary and those who find it simply bizarre . Bryan MacLean contributed two songs that provide crucial contrast: "Alone Again Or" (the album's opener and only single) and "Old Man." The former, with its romantic flamenco-tinged melody and lyrics about universal love, became the album's most accessible moment, while the latter is a stark folk song about spiritual seeking . --- ## Music: A Genre-Defying Fusion *Forever Changes* refuses easy categorization, blending elements that shouldn't work together but somehow coalesce into a unified vision: | Element | Description | |---------|-------------| | **Psychedelic folk-rock** | Acoustic guitars dominate, creating an intimate, almost campfire-like atmosphere that grounds the orchestral flourishes | | **Baroque pop orchestration** | Composer David Angel added lush string arrangements that hover beneath the surface, never overwhelming the songs | | **Latin/Mariachi influences** | The trumpet solo on "Alone Again Or" (by Bud Brisbois) gives the track its distinctive Tijuana Brass flavor | | **Proto-punk energy** | Tracks like "Live and Let Live" and "Bummer in the Summer" feature Johnny Echols' searing, stuttering electric guitar work that anticipates punk by nearly a decade | | **Flamenco** | Spanish guitar textures appear throughout, particularly on "Alone Again Or" | The arrangements are complex and unconventional. "Andmoreagain" is essentially two songs merged into one, with slower acoustic passages interlaced with hovering strings . "You Set the Scene" combines three separate songs into a mini-suite . The album's dynamics shift constantly—from the gentle cascade of "Alone Again Or" to the furious, amphetamine-cacophony of "Live and Let Live" . --- ## Production: Crisis and Collaboration The production of *Forever Changes* was born from crisis. By 1967, the band was fracturing due to heroin addiction and internal conflicts. Co-producer Bruce Botnick initially brought in the Wrecking Crew (the legendary LA session musicians) to record backing tracks for "Andmoreagain" and "The Daily Planet" when the band proved unreliable . According to Botnick, when the actual band members heard the session musicians playing their parts, they were "physically crying... so shocked, so put out, so hurt that it caused them to forget about their problems and become a band again" . Arthur Lee issued a "make or break" ultimatum, and the band summoned their last reserves of creativity . **Production characteristics:** - The sound is remarkably clear and has aged exceptionally well, with bass guitar given unusual prominence for the era - Stereo separation is extreme—drums and bass often panned hard left, guitars hard right—a choice that sounds either dated or charmingly vintage depending on the listener - The orchestration by David Angel integrates seamlessly, never feeling tacked-on or overly "produced" despite the complexity - Bruce Botnick's role was crucial in holding the project together; Elektra founder Jac Holzman later credited him as "the most important person in the studio besides Arthur and Bryan" --- ## Themes: The End of the Dream *Forever Changes* captures the precise moment when 1960s idealism began to sour. While 1967 saw the release of *Sgt. Pepper's* and the height of the Summer of Love, Lee was documenting the darkness beneath: - **Alienation and dislocation**: Lee positions himself as an outsider observing the collapse. In "Bummer in the Summer," he adopts a Dylan-esque sneer, while "The Red Telephone" finds him detached, watching the world burn - **Racial tension**: As an African American frontman in a predominantly white rock scene, Lee brought a unique perspective. "Bummer in the Summer" addresses racial tensions explicitly - **Drug culture's dark side**: Unlike the celebratory drug references in much psychedelia, Lee's lyrics acknowledge addiction's toll. The band's own struggles with heroin informed the album's paranoid atmosphere - **The personal as political**: Lee transforms his own fear of death and band dysfunction into universal statements about mortality and change The album's title itself encapsulates this theme. According to legend, Lee took it from a conversation where a man, accused of breaking a promise to love forever, replied: "Well, forever changes" . --- ## Influence and Legacy Despite peaking at only #154 on the Billboard 200 (though reaching #24 in the UK), *Forever Changes* has become one of the most influential albums in rock history : **Immediate influence on contemporaries:** - The Doors (signed to Elektra through Lee's recommendation) were clearly influenced by Love's poetic approach - Jim Morrison reportedly admired Lee's lyrical vision - The album influenced West Coast psychedelic bands including The Seeds and Strawberry Alarm Clock **Long-term impact:** - **British indie/alternative scene**: The Stone Roses, Teenage Fanclub, and The Teardrop Explodes all drew from Love's jangly guitar sound and orchestral pop sensibilities - **Robert Plant** of Led Zeppelin was such a fan that he headlined a 2006 benefit concert for Lee when the singer was battling leukemia - **Yo La Tengo** covered "A House Is Not a Motel" on their debut album, introducing the song to new generations **Critical recognition:** - Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (2008) - Selected for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry (2011) - #11 on Mojo magazine's "100 Greatest Albums Ever Made" (1996) As music writer Barney Hoskyns noted, Lee is "a vital and iconic figure in the story of 'Black rock'" who influenced everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Sly Stone . --- ## Pros and Cons ### **Pros** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Lyrical depth** | Arthur Lee's poetry operates on multiple levels—surreal yet emotionally direct, dark yet occasionally hopeful. The lyrics reward repeated listening and interpretation | | **Musical ambition** | The seamless fusion of folk, rock, classical orchestration, Latin music, and psychedelia was unprecedented and remains distinctive | | **Emotional authenticity** | The album's darkness feels earned, not performative. Lee genuinely believed he was creating his own memorial, and that urgency permeates every track | | **Production quality** | The recording is remarkably clear and balanced, with innovative use of stereo separation and orchestral arrangement | | **Song sequencing** | The album flows as a complete statement, from the romantic opening of "Alone Again Or" to the epic philosophical conclusion of "You Set the Scene" | | **Historical significance** | It documents a crucial turning point in 1960s culture—the moment the dream began to fade—with unparalleled clarity | | **Guitar work** | Johnny Echols' electric guitar provides crucial edge and energy, particularly on "Live and Let Live" and "A House Is Not a Motel" | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Extreme stereo separation** | The hard panning of instruments (drums/bass left, guitar right) can sound dated or disorienting on modern playback systems | | **Uneven accessibility** | While "Alone Again Or" is immediately appealing, some tracks require multiple listens to appreciate. "The Good Humor Man" can feel slight compared to the weightier material | | **Deliberately obtuse lyrics** | Lee's surreal imagery occasionally crosses into incomprehensibility. The "snot/crystal" line in "Live and Let Live" remains divisive | | **Vocal limitations** | Arthur Lee's voice is an acquired taste—fragile, sometimes off-key, and emotionally raw rather than technically polished | | **Inconsistent energy** | The album's pacing moves from gentle acoustic numbers to explosive rockers, which some listeners find jarring rather than dynamic | | **Cult status vs. mass appeal** | Despite its critical reputation, the album has never achieved the mainstream recognition of contemporaries like *Sgt. Pepper's* or *Pet Sounds* | --- ## Conclusion *Forever Changes* is a masterpiece born from dysfunction and despair. It stands as perhaps the definitive document of the moment when the 1960s utopian dream revealed its cracks—when the drugs stopped working, when the war wouldn't end, when mortality asserted itself against the promise of eternal youth. Arthur Lee created a requiem for a moment that was already passing, and in doing so, crafted something timeless. The album's greatness lies in its contradictions: it is simultaneously beautiful and disturbing, orchestrated yet raw, universal yet deeply personal. It captures the sound of a band falling apart while creating their definitive statement. For listeners willing to engage with its darkness and complexity, *Forever Changes* offers rewards that only deepen with time—an album that truly lives up to its title, forever changing with each listen, each year, each new generation that discovers it.
Blind album and artist. I thought it was interesting with the instrumental variety but nothing stood out aside from that and it couldnt carry the album. Some tracks were cool and some lagged.
This was better than I thought but still pretty typical 60s 70s chill rock
This was NOT a Bummer In the Summer.
Всегда приятно переслушать.
Orchestral, softer, folksier side of rock without going completely Simon & Garfunkel. Great lyrics, too: “I think that people are the greatest fun.” Very fitting for their band name and the time period.
Pretty solid! The composition was a little flat leaving the album feeling somewhat boring overall 3.5/5
3.75
Inoffensive album that I doubt anyone would care about today and that probably shouldn't be on the list. It was fine. 2.5 Stars Post Review Reading Update: Way too many 5s on the main page for a sane culture.
It's nice. 3.5
Good
Very much a mixed bag album, some great songs with nice instrumentations but just as many songs that I’m just bored. My fav part tho is that my fav band Magdalena Bay interpolated The Red Telephone, cool touch.
Compared to a lot of the Psychedelic Rock on this list, this is actually an enjoyable listen. Is every song great? No. But there is enough in this to keep me interested, which says a lot.
Yea yea. Very 60s. Could have been their other album on here
Not my favorite.
Крутые парни спасибо что напомнили
I'm an old person and I don't really need to be doing this challenge as I've been obsessed with music since teenagehood. Crinkly, dessicated and covered in liver spots, that's me. If I've ever wanted to hear something, I've probably heard it by now. But there are a few exceptions. This is one of them. People whose opinions I trust rate this album very highly. Should I still trust them? Yes! Nice and mellow. Good vibes! When the album stopped, Spotify played The Left Banke - another band I've always meant to listen to. That was even better! A purchase required on my next record shopping trip! But not for Love! Expensive day, ha ha!
This evening, “Forever Changes” is the only straight-up West Coast psychedelic record that I can think of as perfect. There may be others, but none better. Sometimes it is as simple as having someone write god-slaying songs with a killer band. Love must’ve been a blast to watch about now, and Arthur Lee had the right material for his collaborators. Songs contain multiple sections, yet I can spontaneously hum a summary of each of them if I try; the writing is clever rather than complicated.
A cornucopia of folky hippy delights. Each track has its own curious flavor, and all are delectable even if I couldn't really tell you the name of any song apart from "Alone Again Or". Peculiar elements are scattered throughout, while much is also eminently suitable for a singalong: "I believe in Ma-A-GIC; Why? Because it is SO QUICK" and, all together now: "Oh the snot has caked against my pants; It has turned into cRystal" Weird and terrific.
I enjoyed a few tracks, others were skipable 2.5 stars
This album wasn’t really my thing. It felt like it dragged on, every song sounded similar. Maybe in another time and place but right now it isn’t for me
nice listen, but songs listen samey to me
fora mišung psihodelije, hipijevštine i neke čak šansolikosti? nije nešto što bih si inače pustio, al mi je drago da sam odslušo
Its like the band kids and the theater kids in the late 60s decided to make an album. I wonder if Bummer in the Summer was inspiration for Celentrano's Prisencolinensinainciusol
I'm fond of the folk rock sound of this era and this is a good example. I only knew the opening track, the rest of the album may have been the same quality but familiarity with Alone Again Or informed how I listened to it. Deserves its place on the list.
I thought many of the tracks here were ambitious both musically and lyrically. I’d be lying if I said I was consistently engaged though.
Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: Beautiful, fragile, like optimism slowly realizing it doesn’t stand a chance. Soft on the surface, quietly devastating underneath. Favorite Track: “Alone Again Or.” That opening is pure golden light… and then it gently reminds you everything fades.
Completely forgot I listened to this a few hours later and was wondering what the album for today was
Pretty standard psychedelic rock, nothing too unique or outstanding tbh.
(75/100)
This has never really clicked for me, even if I am still a Wes Anderson fan. Just too much of the 60s folk/psychedelia ponderings for my tastes. There’s a childlike/nursery rhyme quality to a lot of the verse/lyrical melodies that is in keeping with those trappings, which is then heightened to melodrama by the strings. A few of the songs open up into something more compelling, but they’re still surrounded by the aforementioned.
Not interesting
Hippy nonsense. Really bad
No le tenia fé, pero es una maravilla. Trasmite tranquilidad, melancolia, tristeza. Es muy profundo y sensible. No todos logran conectar con el album, yo si lo hice. Muy diferente a lo que suelo escuchar, pero lo ame.
good
Just a great all round album. Beautiful arrangements and I've always enjoyed the vocals on here. It really grabs you with the opening track and keeps it going from there. Perhaps I find the first side more interesting than the second, but it doesn't deter from enjoying the album. One of the best Psychedelic Folk Pop Rock esque albums of tha era, an era filled with those types of records no less.
What a gorgeous, weird and haunting album. I love the idea that Arthur Lee wrote this as a young man obsessed with the idea of his own mortality. It comes through in all of the emotions associated with this examination in songs that are both beautiful and unsettling. Love this so much.
SO different and positive. Real feel-good music when need to improve the mood.