Reviews (page 5 of 9)
Was expecting great things for this, from what I had previously heard / read about it. Definitely odd and unique, but the feel was too folky for me to really latch on to it. I enjoyed bit of this, generally the more upbeat tracks such as 'Maybe...', but not one I would play from start to finish again.
Alone Again Or aside, it's all very Dungeons and Dragons.
Meh, normalne tyhle psycho mam rad ale tohle me zas tolik neba.
This one was pretty good, I can appreciate it for being influential at the time I would assume. It sounds like a lot of what I’ve heard, but maybe that’s because people created their own version of it? Nothing really stands out to me explicitly about any of these tracks, but as a whole, it was an entertaining lesson. I’d give it a three out of five, appreciating it for what it is.
Fine
Quite simply one of the finest albums ever recorded. If you don't agree give Forever Changes several more listens before giving up on it. Then listen again.
Nice chill rock vibe
Actually loved this album. Never heard of these guys before and was really impressed. Great sound, great songs, will likely give this many more listens
Weird but good I guess. It’s very different. I’m torn between a 2 and 3 but there was nothing objectionable so a 3 it is.
Surprised that I liked this as much as I did. I went in with very low expectations, as most of the psychedlic rock bands ended up disappointing me with a ton of weird sounds and noise, trying to sound trippy or something. Love was much better, showing off a variety of musical styles and cohesiveness. 3/5
A pleasant album on the whole I enjoyed the first half and then it went a bit dull in the 2nd half A 3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️
All of these mid sixties psychedelic era albums have 2-3 absolutely classic songs and a bunch of supremely dated acid hippie diddling.
Differed sound from the 60’s. Not the typical rock n roll sound. Seemed to be a nice change.
Very enjoyable
Never heard of these guys, so my lack of expectations were completely fulfilled by this listen.
I’ve heard so much about this album and have always meant to listen but have never heard the entire thing before. I’m actually pleasantly surprised. Sure, some of the lyrics and vocal stylings are a bit cringe but ultimately I found a lot here and can recognize its influence in many albums of that time and afterwards.
Aight
I'm shocked I enjoyed this as much as I did
Chill It kinda reminds me of the beatles somehow Good guitar solos
Never knew this. Not bad.
When it comes to mellotron use and orchestral arrangements, Forever Changes is undoubtedly up there with the best, standing alongside albums like Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues. The 60s were an incredibly creative period, especially in psychedelic and baroque pop, and this album is one of the standout examples from that time. The orchestration here is exceptional, and the production, given the era, is impressive. There’s a reason why this album continues to be highlighted as one of the best from that period. Even though I don’t usually go with the popular picks, this one would definitely make it onto my personal list of top albums.
2.5
Chill and decent 60s folk baroque pop.
2,5
Didn't get a great feel for this on my first listen but my initial reaction was that it sounded like a poor man's Beatles group. Second listen also felt pretty meh though I enjoyed it more. Landed on 2.5 stars, but willing to go a low 3.
Hmm I thought for certain I had already reviewed this. Not complaining, I remember enjoying this one just fine. Things are off to a nice gait on Alone Again Or, which has a sort of Mexican border feeling about it. Like it should be from a country western or something. A House is Not a Motel is simply fantastic, as is Andmoreagain -- absolutely in love with this again 3 songs in. Really enjoy the harmonies and unsettling tones of The Red Telephone. Big fan of Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale. Live and Let Live jams and plays as an overt protest track -- wish we got more of this guitar throughout TBH. Bummer in the Summer sounds a bit like a heavier, better sung Dylan and I'm about it. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. High 4 / 5.
Another folky type singer-songwriter album. Cool album cover and a cool name. This album is almost like sing talking. My feelings toward it are very similar to Gram Parsons which we just listened to an album before. Probably could be a 3, but I enjoyed Gram Parsons a smidge more.
Loving the folk psychy sounds of this album. First two songs were great but then there were a few duds. Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale was a jam. Had a few good jams but also some duds. Really wanted to give this a 4 but don't think it earned it.
Really loving this out of the gate. Has a perfect blend of psychedelia and folk. Some pretty interesting songs. Starts to get kinda baroque-y towards the end, but not enough to keep it from a 4.
Vallan ok, aika suureellinen mutta mitäpä muuta odottaisin värikäskantiselta vuoden 67 albumilta. Yllättäen pidän torvista. Niiden takia voisin antaa jopa kolmosen, mutta koska muuta mieleenpainuvaa ei ollut, en ihan kehtaa.
Tämä LP todistaa, että psykeily ei ole este millekään, jos vain jaksaa miettiä, millä tavalla nuotit ja soinnut järjestäisi pureviksi kokonaisuuksiksi. Ihan joka biisi ei pakota kuuntelemaan, mutta kaikki niistä saavat yrittämään (melodiat, you know). Kaksi ekaa toimivat aina. 3,5
It's okay.
listened to it but dornt remember shit
Folk / psychedelic
For 60s psych, this was pretty good. Not perfect but it was OK. Listenable.
60s bard music. Some nice strings, but meh, just another 60s band. 3*
Easy listen 60s psych/folk rock. Not very interesting, but pleasant background music.
I used to listen to Alone Again Or often and eventually decided to check out the whole album. I thought the rest of the songs would bring that same energy and was disappointed when they didn't scratch my brain the same way. But I'm glad to have given this another chance because Forever Changes really is a little gem of an album. The string and horn arrangements are so pleasant throughout, and the lyrics paint with darker colors than the music, creating an interesting contrast. A very high 4 for this one.
It was okay. I wasn’t the worst thing I’ve listened to. It was just very boring in my opinion. It sounds like every other album from the 60’s, honestly. Not a huge fan of music from that era in general.
I've never heard of this band before. Right off the first track it seems like it was at the proto front of acoustic guitar based music. Perfect for those hippies to sing along to in california.
Started off with potential. Sounded from the era but like they were trying stuff others weren't and I appreciated the slight mix up, but about halfway through I got bored
Dull and generic psychedelic crud.
beatles esq
bo però massa melós. m'agrada Love quan és aspre.
Really nothing special
Exceeded expectations. Overall it was good. Nothing totally stood out, but nothing to dislike.
I found this to be a really interesting album. Listening to the lyrics you hear that the hippy sheen was wearing off. It's a transitional album, bridging the gap from what was to what was to come.
Classic 60s psychedelia. Sounds very groovy.
Such a fantastic album, and one I’ve loved for a long time, but Arthur Lee must have had some properly dark shit going around his head when he wrote this.
Always cool when a band puts extra focus on listening in stereo. This is so well arranged. It has the warmth of that period but there's a fair amount of musical complexity going on. Something I found myself having an easy time focusing on or zoning out to. I'm buying this album.
Nice album art. Sounded fine on the car stereo, but headphones let the stereo mixing shine. The sound of the strings is expertly captured. Ooo Trumpets. Such a soundscape. This just helps me understand that something bad happened to a lot of music production in the 2000s Yeah, that's a 5
Bought this as a teenager as I think Q magazine had called it one of the albums of the 60's. I tried very hard to like it but it never really connected. Listening again now I can appreciate the lushness of the arrangements and the psychedelic leanings.
Forever Changes Actual good 60s stereo mixing! I’ve never found this quite as good as its reputation suggests, but I do still like it, particularly giving it repeat listens now. It's definitely one of the better summer of love/psychedelic albums, its acoustic-folk underpinning makes it more interesting, enduring and listenable than many of their interminable blues-noodling acid rock peers. Alone Again Or is of course fantastic and the standout song - a great late 60s hippy lyric, a lovely guitar figure, an excellent string arrangement and brilliant mariachi horns, giving it all a warm, Hot LA sunshine feel. Aside from Alone Again Or, I do like A House Is Not a Motel, The Daily Planet, Old Man, The Red Telephone, Bummer in the Summer and You Set the Scene, but all the songs are at least decent, with no real stinkers. There’s some great bass playing and tone, I also like that when there is an electric guitar, it is much more of an embellishment, rather than the whole point. There’s no doubt the songs do share a similar feel though, with string and brass arrangements, but I do like that it sounds like the 60s LA of my imagination that never was - Mexican/hispanic horns, Laurel Canyon/folk guitars, UK influenced Baroque strings and an acid/hippy/love everyone ethos. Listening to this after listening to the Mothers of Invention albums is also interesting. How they are the opposite sides of the same thing improves them both for me. This is the most I’ve enjoyed this album after listening now and again over the years, so I’ll put it at a solid 4. 👨❤️💋👨👨❤️💋👨👨❤️💋👨👨❤️💋👨 Playlist submission: Alone Again Or
'Alone Again Or' is a minor-key mariachi masterpiece. The swelling tremelo violin, trumpets (and great solo) and picked acoustic, all combine superbly. 'A House is Not a Motel' continues the acoustic-folk-pop, not a million miles from the Byrds. A great track. Whilst this isn't a protest album, there were a couple of moments lyrically ('the news today will be the movies for tomorrow, and the waters turned to blood' or 'ask your leaders why' or 'they're locking them up today, they're throwing away the key - I wonder who it'll be tomorrow, you or me?') that made me question where the protest singers of today are, when we need them most. Singing about umbrellas, chandeliers or baby sharks, that's where. A grower to be sure, with a pair of fantastic opening tracks. Thoughtful. Some straight down the middle of the road kind of stuff but dressed with some very nice arrangements.
Alone again.. Or . Top track, seven levels above anything else here. Nice instrumentation, but airy fairy vocals are trying.
It very much sounds like a product of the 60s. That being said, it was pretty good and definitely worth listening to.
I liked the back half better than the first, it's still not an album I'll find myself returning to.
This was beautiful and mellow. Not necessary as active a listen as a lot of other 4s here. psychedelic folk-rock that really clicked with me. The layered guitars and prominent string sections, especially on tracks like A House Is Not a Motel, create a rich, hypnotic atmosphere.
Pretty good Rating: 3.8
Maybe I would’ve enjoyed more on another day but it wasn’t the vibe I wanted for cycling to work.
Inoffensive, just a bit dull
Groovy but not super my cup of tea.
Why? Why do I think there are these stupid little hints, messages, and meanings that the universe drops? Why do I pay attention at all? Is it speaking to me, or is it just some impulsive manifestation of my own memories firing in rapid succession, tossing relentless volleys of feelings I'll never understand? Is this a breadcrumb from something bigger than me, or just a coincidence I’m way too eager to romanticize? Just this quiet little nudge that says "Hey, pay attention!" And it’s probably nothing. It’s probably just my brain playing connect-the-dots with things that don’t need to be connected. But I noticed, and it cracked open this big, raw space in my chest. And my soul. Maybe that’s all it is. The noticing. Maybe that’s what matters. Maybe it’s okay if I read too far into things. Maybe the magic isn't in the message at all - maybe it’s in the noticing. Change will happen whether I want it to or not. So maybe that’s the trick: nothing is permanent, but somehow, everything still matters. 365 ̷d̷a̷y̷s̷ albums. 1 year. To the ̷d̷a̷y̷ album.
Enjoyed this a lot. Psychedelic rock from the 60s but sounding a lot fresher than other bands in that genre. Middle of the album definitely the strongest song wise, with a couple of tracks fading here and there, but overall a very interesting and enjoyable listen for me!
Sort of folky psychedelic acoustic stuff. Was okay in the background as it seemed to finish without me noticing, really didn't mix it up very much. I know the 60s were hugely influential on loads of genres but feel like I'm wading though landfill now. Didn't have to hear this, not painful but not worth listening to.
Cracking album. Probably more of a 4.5 than a 5. A House is Not a Motel, Andmoreagain, The Red Telephone, and The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything are great. I really, really like the arrangements of the songs in general, and the eclectic nature of some of the drumming and the lyrics. Cleanly evokes the era.
Listened to this album before, it is good but not as good as I thought it was going to be..... But maybe that was because I was listening on a late train home.... "Alone again or" is a great track though and I do like the sound of this 60s psychedelic era generally. There's probably better examples though Still worthy of a 3.5
Seems like Moody Blues and these guys had similar inspiration, vocally and with music composition. Off to the wiki’s….
This album was not bad.
There’s some good stuff and has a touch of humour that I love but doesn’t quite stick the landing. This is an album that I loved 6 or 7 years ago but by this point think is lacking a little.
I enjoyed many of the songs including set the scene. Each song has substance
It was aight
I came to this album late...I guess it was the 2000s when it was de rigeur to recognize Forever Changes and Odyssey and Oracle as unappreciated classics. I think Forever Changes because this album didn't have even a classic song Season of the Witch. But my word is this an incredible, dare I say even a masterpiece. As someone who grew up on the folk rock of artists like Shawn Phillips and Cat Stevens this album came as revelation. Even things like the string arrangements which I am not normally a fan of are tasteful and suit the songs near perfectly. And the songs, accessible but complex are all satisfying and bear up to close scrutiny. The themes are typical of the time but don't seem cloying and overwrought. A no-brainer 5 star album
Was alright
Overall mediocre but some decent songs
This is okay but I don’t love it.
I have to be in a certain mood for the weird vibe that 60s music often gives off, but this album was a bit of a surprise. Common elements of that era's musical trends are there: folksy acoustic guitar, string arrangements, and some baroque-ness, but it's all tastefully blended in a way where none of those elements are overbearing or off-putting. I didn't feel transported to Haight-Ashbury, or sense the oncoming tsunami of a Spector production, or like I'm halfway inside some 17th century music hall. Instead, this album manages to feel from the era but unique in its production. I've never (knowingly) heard the band Love before, but after reading the Wiki blurb for the album, I'm curious to listen to the band's earlier albums to see how their sound developed.
Z tak głupią nazwą zespołu spodziewałem się czegoś bardzo kiepskiego, a dostałem jeden z fajniejszych albumów na tej liście. Mega przyjemny krążek, często myślałem, że brzmi to jak bardziej skoczne Velvet Underground (ciągle żałuję, że dałem ich płytce tylko 3...). "Andmoreagain" to chyba mój ulubiony utwór, zaraz obok "Live and let live". Podoba mi się to psychodeliczno-folkowe brzmienie, pląsająca gitara i symfoniczne aranżacje. Dla mnie ten album ma w sobie dużo głębi, ale też dużo rozpiętości. Jest w nim dla mnie coś nieuchwytnego, głęboko świadomego, umykającego gdzieś na obrzeżach delikatnego brzmienia. Jest bardzo wyrafinowany. Podoba mi się wyciąg z recenzji współczesnej albumowi: "melancholy iconoclasm and tasteful romanticism". Tu też mocne 4,5.
I actually think that there is potential in this band - maybe they are famous and there are more albums. It seems like there is something missing or misplaced to break through other great bands of 50/60s(?).
Świetny album, wcześniej znałem tylko Alone Again Or, mega lekkie i przyjemne słuchanko.
приятные такие, мелодичные
I liked the other Love album on this list better, but this is serviceable psych rock.
not a bad album, slight edge to Da Capo over this album though
Good opening song that I always thought was a Calexico song but the rest is kinda floaty hippie stuff that is pretty meh. I'll just continue listening to Calexico
I didn't mind this, but it didn't really rise above its peers for me.
This album was a good choice to listen to this morning. It was calming and peaceful. I'm a big fan of this style of music, so it was definitely up my alley, but to say it was one of the greatest albums of all times definitely seems out of place. Overall a good listen.
I was actually disappointed to hear the first song and realize that the Calexico song that I love is just a cover of this song... :( Still slaps though but I really miss the instrumental interlude with the claps I really enjoyed the instrumentation from a lot of the songs. I thought each song was pretty unique and had its own flavour. I wouldn't mind listening to it again, but I probably would never reach out for it on my own.
BEST SONGS: - A House Is Not A Motel - The Red Telephone - Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale
Evocative
Wow, I'd never heard of this band before but I loved the album. Great find!
Solid soft rock music. The Spanish oriental style here and there is pretty cool. They should've done more with it
I thought it was gonna be really generic 60s psych but i really enjoyed it, very varied and fun.
Nothing here really stood out. It wasnt bad but there’s nothing there too much for me.
Great
so good i can't believe i've never heard this before!!
Previously rated: Da Capo (3/5) ******************** Hippie crap with some Classical Gas type guitar work. Barely a 3.
Thrilling at times
When it comes to mellotron use and orchestral arrangements, Forever Changes is undoubtedly up there with the best, standing alongside albums like Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues. The 60s were an incredibly creative period, especially in psychedelic and baroque pop, and this album is one of the standout examples from that time. The orchestration here is exceptional, and the production, given the era, is impressive. There’s a reason why this album continues to be highlighted as one of the best from that period. Even though I don’t usually go with the popular picks, this one would definitely make it onto my personal list of top albums.
Don't think I've ever listened to them before, but it's definitely my vibe. All around okay!
Didn’t do anything for me sadly.
"soft rock", kind of beatles-esque
This is a very nice sound.
Great record.
I love this album. It is almost perfect, one of those records held up as classics which do live up to the hype. I knew Love from a couple of tracks, Stephanie Knows Who and Seven and Seven Is, which I think my uncle had on a compilation, and I first bought Forever Changes in the ’90s, I think, when it appeared in a 100 best albums list. Since then I have played it once or twice a year and, each time, I am surprised by the production, the overall sound, and the songs. The trumpet on Alone Again or, the orchestral arrangements, the folk elements set against the strings and jangly guitars, the way the lyrics vear from optimism to pessimism and paranoia, sometimes within the same song, as if the summer of love was starting to fall into the darkness. The weird thing is, despite the initial, non-Forever Changes, songs I was familiar with, I have never taken the time to investigate Love’s back catalogue, something I need to resolve.
Besser als ich erwartet habe. Hat mich jetzt nicht vom Hocker gehauen, aber überraschend gut. Waren schon ein paar sehr eingängige Songs dabei, auch wenn es nicht so meins war.
This was nice, very chill hippy style music and I quite liked just tapping my foot along to it.
Rock n Roll for lonely hobbits. 3
Typical for the time. Good but nothing mind blowing
In my memory it was even better...but still a good album!
This was good. I thought that the melodies and chords were kinda all over the place, but overall I did like it. A little too pop and not psychedelic enough, I think, but still good. Three stars.
I enjoyed this psychedelic adventure!
Tosi hyvä hippirokkilevy joka on jäänyt ehkä muiden aikalaistensa varjoon 4/5
Hyvä folk-levy, jonka aurinkoisen pinnan alla on vähän syvyyttäkin. 4/5
it approaches decent on occasion, but ultimately it's just kind of standard hippie flower child pop.
01) Alone Again Or - 8,0 02) A House Is Not a Motel - 7,5 03) Andmoreagain - 8,0 04) The Daily Planet - 7,0 05) Old Man - 7,0 06) The Red Telephone - 7,5 07) Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale - 7,5 08) Live and Let Live - 7,0 09) The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This - 7,0 10) Bummer in the Summer - 7,5 11) You Set the Scene - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,36 (74/100) Current ranking: 238/456
Not my cup of tea but surprisingly pleasant. Really well-crafted in all aspects, even if I probably won't revisit the album.
wasn't the most captivating listen, but there were a couple of decent tracks rating: ⭐⭐ [48/100]
Boring
definitely interesting folk-psychedelia sound, would go back to in the future.
This was interesting. It had a 60s vibe and sound, but seemed a bit darker than a lot of the brighter stuff from the same time period. I very much enjoyed.
Solid psychedelia, though I enjoyed the front half much more (barring You Set the Scene).
Pretty straightforward. I liked the horn sound on a couple tracks. The lyrics struck me as pretty corny a number of times. Just from a different time.
Another Beatles sound alike
Þessi er alveg ljómandi, solid 1967 án þess að vera klisjukennd. Margt mjög skemmtilegt, engin feilnóta slegin og sumt alveg frábært. Fallega lágstemmt á köflum og strengir og brass vel nýtt. Og aldrei tilgerðarlegt. Ég gæti þessa miklu oftar og held ég hendi í fimmu.
Overall chill psychedelic rock album. It has its catchy moments but very little of it was able to hold my attention. If youre doing anything else it is very easy to not notice a different song has started
Nada que destacar realmente 6.0
There are some interesting flourishes from time to time (Latin music, etc), but this is ultimately just competent musicians executing some fairly vanilla hippie rock with a bush league vocalist singing batshit lyrics.
The most 60s sounding album ever.
Yeah, said, it's alright.
Good 69s folk rock. Nice addition for a playlist.
60’s hippy rock. Decent
Great cover art. Yet... after seeing the art I expected different music style and more energy. It disappointed me. yawn
Ehh. Ok, nothing amazing
Quite enjoyed this one in many aspects. Loved the bass and the acoustic guitar, and the more random instruments like the violin and trumpet in a couple of songs were a lovely touch. Vocals were good on some tracks too but worse on others. The first two tracks were amazing, alongside The Red Telephone. Only thing stopping me from giving it a 5 is there was a considerable drop off from the good songs and the bad, like Old Man. For someone who isn't massively into his 60s music, this is for sure one of the better ones I've listened to
I’ll give it a three.
Bit dull.
Good dad rock, good vibes. Enjoyed
Little bit boring
Though I was familiar with all the possible folk pop combos from the mid-late 60s, so when this popped in my feed, I was underwhelmed. But where has this been my life to-date? Glorious harmonies and strings in abundance if that's your bag. One of the greatest ever? In a way, it feels like it can't be, because it's not better know. But I am then just guilty of giving in to "if it's popular, it must be good". 4-and-a-half stars, with a very reluctant rounding down because it didn't quite hit in the way that my very favourite albums do.
Might be a 5, I'd have to listen to it again. Notes of Velvet Underground, the Byrds, the Who, a lot of stuff going on in here. And you can't say they were ripping these guys off as contemporaries...somethign in the water in 1967
This is fairly lovely and gentle listening, and I'm glad to hear an album from this era that's unfamiliar to me, but the album didn't otherwise grab a hold of me. The guitar on the opening track is gorgeous and I love the arrangement on "Old Man". The vocal layering and rhythm on "Live and Let Live" stands out too.
Arrancó increíble y después se planchó onda te manda a dormir. Es un rock chill pero de los finales de los 60s, juega con las voces y tiene una vuelta de turca más. Me gustó bastante.
I had never heard this album of band before but on first listen fell in love with it. Catchy tunes, weird and wonderful lyrics, very strings and harmonies. A hidden gem!
This album needs to be listened to on a little turntable on the floor with some candles
3.0 It was ok, some pretty good guitar tones for 1967
Psychedelic music in the '60s represented a new frontier for music, specifically music production. In combination with new instrumentation, bands began experimenting with new production techniques in order to bring a new dimension of sound to their songs. The problem, then, is that time that could've been spent writing better songs was spent faffing about in the studio to make a cool echo effect. I'm of the opinion that many influential psychedelic rock bands are only influential because they were the first to do something vaguely interesting rather than doing it well. Enter Love. They did it well, alongside the Doors and Jimi Hendrix (and, to a lesser extent, the Beatles). Songs on Forever Changes are intricate and pretty, in part because of Arthur Lee's excellent songwriting and in part because their effective use of psychedelic production. While a bit frilly and posh at times, Love pulled together some truly impressive melodies while also blending fantastic inspired folk stylings. Forever Changes sets the bar.
This is beautifully crafted psychedelic folk rock. I must say that I'm partial to the opening track thanks to The Damned's cover (I've been obsessed with the cover and music video for the last couple of years), so this album has already been on my radar. The string and horn arrangements are gorgeous and lush without being overbearing. The vocals are soothing yet captivating. It's albums like this that make me appreciate this challenge. I will certainly explore more of Love.
It grabbed me immediately because the first track is a song I've heard many, many times, only it's the cover version by The Damned. The rest of the album was ok, but not something I'd listen to again.
On Jojo Rabbit playlist, which I found cool. I enjoyed this music, a bit depressing sometimes but still upbeat.
I have heard many better albums from that time period. This one could not hold my interest. 2 stars or D+ for me.
Fav: A House Is Not A Motel Least Fav: Live And Let Live I didn’t love this…
60’s mediocre music. What the hell is an Andmoreagain? Cool cover, album, not so much 1001 album worthy: No - 22/39
Genius.
Off the beaten path Folksy yet innovative Homely rock music
Nice enjoyable set of tunes.
Psychedelic and deep
Just lovely
The first half was pleasant, although nothing special. But by the second half if got boring quite quickly and I was starting to lose interest. This one could grow on me in the future though.
Ik
discovered this album some months ago and have listened to it at least 100 times since. it's so good. i love this album, everyone should love this album, love forever changes but this album being a 10/10 does not
This was some fairly nice old hippie rock. Opening track was a banger and whilst its not something ill go back to, i actively enjoyed it
- After the release of this album, the original line-up of Love would not write music again - This is an interesting album, I have not listened to their previous albums, so I don't know how much of an electric influence they normally have, but from what I've read, this was a more folk-influenced album, that was counter-culture, because the singer categorically did not believe in flower-power - As such, the lyrics have a more realistic feel across the record
Some slick guitar that runs perfectly counter to the cutesy Cowsill-esque vocals—though the frontman sounded like Jimi Hendrix for just that one song(??) Definitely maybe prejudged the album for the band name—Love is a bold choice
My thoughts while listening to this album: why do most of the songs sound similar to one another? The genre is Rock but it sounds more alternative rock
Never really got this album. Tried listening a few times and it often ends up just being background music.
Flower power baby
I think this album by the band Love is simply a fine little listen, gosh darn it. Some silly little horns sections bring the spice and flair while the bocals have nice little melodies mixed in. 6/10
A folk record I can tolerate - got to know about them after hearing that the Doors used to open for them back in the early days of the band, got curious and found the treasure of this album. Got to see them play live in 2004 before Arthur's Lee's death - and while they were awesome musician - he was intolerably drunk and bumming notes so it was a disappointing experience. This record though, never disappoints. Psychadelic folk I can get behind.
one of those typical late 60's records that if you didnt know it (and love it) at that time you're very unlikely to know it or love it now. Pass
Definitely a classic of it's era, not amongst my favorites but still stellar
It’s like the soundtrack to a movie that I didn’t want to watch
Americans trying to be the Beatles. Not bad, but not something I liked
Pretty enjoyable late 60's album with love and peace throughout
While I am biased to this era, this album stands out among the rest. I really fuck with the psychedelic folk feel and the sound stage is just perfect. Has power where it needs it and soft beauty to fill the space. I knew Alone Again Or going into the listen, but did not expect it to blow me away like this. Going to be a must purchase on vinyl and one of those top albums I have heard so far. 9/10
Respect 3 star...
Discazo. Este álbum de amor tiene, más que otros que he escuchado de ellos, canciones absolutamente únicas, que se sienten como nada que haya escuchado antes. Me encanta.
Sweet little psychedelic folk album. Maybe if I paid close attention to the lyrics I'd get some big political insight or something, but as it stands, I liked this more than what I've heard of Donovan so there's that.
6.5/10. Funky but too folky for my liking
I’d known everything until this point. This was rad.
Okay not bad at all you hippies.
It's one of the best albums of the 1960s (that wasn't made by The Beatles) and also a personal favorite of mine. A psychedelic masterpiece which stood the test of time and it still sounds interesting and unique today. The lyrics, the beautiful music (particularly the string arrangements), the vocal delivery by Arthur Lee are all perfection. At the height of flower power this album anticipates the downfall of the counterculture. 'They're locking them up today They're throwing away the key I wonder who it'll be tomorrow, you or me?' are my favorite lines of the album which closes the A side. A 5* album without a doubt.
Solid 2.5 not bad, no stand outs for me
Psychedelisch, en echt origineel. Niet helemaal mijn ding.
Psychedelic summer of love era classic. Super creative still to this day.
I really don't like 60s music :/
I had never heard of this band before and it was amazing.
Pretty enjoyable and new to me!
I really enjoy this late 60's west coast style, they seem very free but are still melodic and tuneful. Love were a great group and these tracks do them justice, I think; they even have a nod to the UK pop style of the time in 'The Daily Planet' and 'The red telephone'. In fact, listening to them I get quite a strong UK groove through all the tracks, except for the horns that are very American in the way they are used on some tracks, reminds me of The Kinks or The Incredible String Band. Overall a very entertaining album with some good tracks; may not be earth-shattering but well-voiced and well-played.
Maybe its because almost every other album from the time period was so cookie cutter same guy voice but this was a nice change. The vocals were different enough to enjoy and the instrumentation was pleasant.
Slap a “guaranteed banger” sticker on the front of this album
I was a little bored. 🥱 repetitive sound but then “maybe the people…” came on and it was such a standout I’m bumping it up!
It was ok
The Doors for dorks
There was a lot of interesting listening going on here, with the strings and horns. Really interesting late 60s rock that I had never heard of before, I'll probably revisit some of this group as well.
Opening track has a dark Spanish, Flamenco-like chord progression (without the aggression of Flamenco) that's pretty cool. 3rd track wasn't great, but 4th track is back to being interesting Strong cognitive dissonance between the music and the lyrics of "Live and Let Live". Red Telephone was an odd one with the weird voice-over stuff. The end of "Good Humor..." is a trip. Can't tell if it's artifacts from a messed-up digitization or if it originally ended with the splice-edit loops like that. "Bummer In the Summer" has some really interesting things going on in the rhythm section I can see why these guys didn't hit it as big as The Byrds or The Doors, but this is actually a damn cool album for the most part. This is like a hippie album made by disillusioned hippies--darker. The occasional strings and trumpet arrangements are probably the least interesting aspect of this album. they really anchor it to the standard fare for the time, while so much of the rest of it is a darker take on the genre. And yet, here comes Mantovani to bring up the lights and make everything a little sunnier. Not sure how often I'll ever listen to this one in the future, but it was a surprisingly interesting album. 4 stars.
This was a complete surprise to me. Everything is just so incredibly pleasant without being boring. Honestly it doesn’t really sound like any other album - and especially not 60s albums. I absolutely hate the old style stereo recordings with instruments separated in left/right. Who prefers this to mono?
I listened to this while going through a stomach bug/fever episode and I think that did it a lot of favours.
Love the first track and enjoyed a lot of the rest!
Enjoyed this.
Favorite Track: A House Is Not a Motel
On commence à avoir fait le tour des albums sortit en 1967, ils commence à sonner tous pareil. Je m’attendais à un peu plus de psychédélisme, c’est beaucoup plus soft et orchestral, donc I guess je suis surpris 😮😮😮
Liked a lot
Regarded as one of the great foundational psych albums of the 1960s, I have this in my collection, but rarely play it. I'm not sure how to rate this album. I don't see it as being as influential as other albums from the mid to late 1960s, and the tracks are a bit variable. I like the often weird lyrics and the general sense of coming to the end of the trip that was the mid-60s.
It's one of those albums that consistently gets plaudits but I can't really see past the first, of course brilliant, song. The rest of it plays out nicely without ever engaging.
A couple good, but a lot more underwhelming than I expected
Rise in the morning to the sound of a bright acoustic guitar and greet the bluebirds and hummingbirds. Then climb the hill on symphonic strings. Tie your hair into pigtails, and when you're done watching all the people die, float downstream on a current of lazy horns.
It's an okay album but has no great remarks for me.
puoliksi ihan hyvää kamaa ja puoliksi maailman paskinta kuraa mitä voi kukaan ikinä tuottaa. ei ette voi vaihdella vakavan surueukko ja hupaisa hapsuttelija välillä ei ette ole the beatles... huoh ja sieltä tuli vertailua comparison is the death of duty... loki nr 780: vaimo hakkasi taas päähän lujaan. mustelmaa niskassaai vittu. horrid.. maybe the people would the times or between clark and hilldale
I feel like this is exactly what the 60s sound like. No other notes Fav Songs: Alone Again Or, The Red Telephone, Maybe the People...
Never heard of 'em, won't remember 'em. Dated 60's mellow rock without any bangers.
I genuinely don't know how groundbreaking it is, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
I panned Da Capo because I felt the songs were too rambling, especially the 19-minute song on the back half of the album. I surmised the second Love album was the more essential one and I don't think I was entirely wrong. This is a much better album than Da Capo and there was no need for Love to have two albums on this list. Love could not resist and had to throw a 7-minute song as the closing track, though this was much more manageable than the 19-minute one from Da Capo. I did like the addition of the orchestration to many of the tracks, as it helped the (somewhat typical) 60's psych-folk stand out among a crowded list of psych-rock bands that are on this list. We did not need two Love albums, as this is the album I would have included. Knowing the background on Love and how the orchestration changed their sound isn't very essential for me to enjoy this band.
It was such a good album to listen to ngl I’ve enjoy the first song and the rest was good. I love the story telling within each song too
# Playlist track - Alone Again Or # Notes - Kind of a cool album, but pretty forgettable too. - I like the arrangements and the instrumentals alone make this one worth a good listen. - Sometimes the track blend in into another, as the album fails to keep interest through the listen. Not a capital sin, but taking one star off. - Still, nice find. Looking forward to listen more.
One of the best album of the 60s, amazing pop that doesn't have any of the trope of pop music that make it cliche. After hearing the Rolling Stones attempt at this genre, it's nice to hear an expert. Definetly influential in South American music. A+
Good but unmemorable psych pop 7.7/10
Extremely influential album, you can hear how much this reflects in other popular music. Way ahead of its time!
Mich erinnert dieses Album an "The Moody Blues": Symphonic Rock. Musik vom feinsten. Die Orchesterarrangements sind sehr gelungen gepaart mit melodischen Kompositionen. Ich bin voll auf begeistert. Das trifft voll meinen Geschmack. Melodisch, pompös mit Orchester und tollen Songs
Groovy and pleasant, this is the music that I would call "hippy shit." I like it well enough, especially the first track "Alone Again Or."
Que belleza de disco es impresionante lo fresco que suena han pasado año y la música parece seguir sus pasos. Es maravilloso poder descubrir lo que es la música con lo que fue antes.
Aaaaalmost a 5. Very cool blend of psych rock and other vibes.
What a great record. Maybe released a couple of years to early for the f*cking hippies but very good stuff here. Listened to it twice.
Meh
Some of this I enjoyed, the first song I even liked. The rest was kind of a folksy in and out. Especially annoying when I find it's an American band. I enjoyed it more than yesterdays but it's getting ridiculous how many of these there are.
Once again, the '60s psych rock bug rears its head. We've had so many albums from this era, it's a bit tiring. But this one's pretty good, some interesting things going on here. Some unconventional instruments, clear acoustic guitar throughout. I like it. Favorite tracks: Andmoreagain, The Red Telephone, Maybe the People, The Good Humor Man. Album art: Fairly generic '60s fare, just some psychedelic faces mashed together. 3.5/5
I liked this better than the other Love album we listened to. I didn’t especially like the slower songs, but the upbeat ones were super mod and fun to listen to. 3.5/5
Thought it was pretty good
If the name of this band was the beatles this album would have been so much more popular. Surprisingly good, feels like it got lost in an era of so much good music
I’m pretty tired of all the psychedelia on this list by now, but this one was pretty good. Well-executed with enough outside influences shining through that this didn’t feel like a rehash of everything else from the genre.
One of those classics i've listened to many times now over the years, and while I don't consider it a perfect 10, it's pretty fantastic and can still go toe to toe with all the other classic albums that also popped up in 1967. What an insane year for music it was. Love the variety on here, the opener especially jumps back and forth between sweet acoustic ballad and some kind of mexican party anthem with horns tooting. It's awesome.
not a band from this era that i've really paid much attention to but this wasn't bad at all! i enjoyed! very warm and fun and 60s lol
Honestly, there's nothing really stand out here. Some of these songs are duds some are okay but nothing tips the scales either way. On balance, it's decidedly mediocre. I liked A House Is Not A Motel and Bummer In The Summer alright though. So it's saved from a failing mark on the weight of those two songs alone. 2.5⭐️
Pretty boring sixties rock, IMHO.
It was okay. Didn't super resonate with me, but I didn't hate it.
its okay. pretty run of the mill folk rock. usually the vocals are a dealbreaker for stuff like this, and the lead singer doesnt do me any favors, just a bit too much of a whine. Also these songs just end weirdly. listen to Old Man, it just stops with no lead out.
“Alone Again Or” is a pretty good song. The rest is pretty generic 60’s British pop rock.
9.5/10 I have heard this before, but forgot what a beast it is. Probably the best of the hippie era rock albums that I’ve heard. Folky, baroque, with amazing production and incredible use of brass Songwriting is excellent, really McCartney-esque in places Amazing vibe runs through this, sounds so fresh Jack White clearly liked this Best: Alone Again Or
Not bad
Can't think of anything else to say other than it's just totally fine
Have this album and like it
Very 60s. Listenable and relatively enjoyable, but is it enough to push it into a 4? Probably not.
Never knew that Alone Again Or was by this band. All this time I thought The Damned wrote it. The original is very nice, but a bit of an adjustment. This record is so ‘60s, it’s almost laughable at times. The Red Telephone sounds like a parody. Overall, it’s cute. They tried. But it’s not something I am likely to revisit much. 3/5
I would have said I’d already had this on my list … but it must have been one of Love’s other albums. It’s quite nice psychy pop rock. ‘Alone Again Or’ is a very strong opening. The rest could be a musical stage production. Everything has that clean enunciation. It’s OK but not one I will be rushing to come back to.
It was ok
..
A surprising beauty. Surprising only because I'd never heard it before. Lovely songwriting and arrangements, with some moments so delicate that you feel like they might shatter in any other context. Beautiful work. I'm off to listen to their other albums!
I think I know why this never hit it huge. Credit to the writers of Spinal Tap if they were channeling this - got a serious "listen, to what the flower people say" vibe. I will likely never listen again, but get how the Doors were influenced. Just not my jam.
Lo escuché no hace mucho. Empezar con el "Alone again or" con esas guitarras, violines, el ritmo de la batería, trompeta la hacen una canción enorme.
This was alright I guess. I don't really care for the sound of this album even though some of the instrumentation is quite good here. Not something I will go back to in the future.
Only liked 3 songs. It was good, nothing special. The album if anything gave me a chuckle. That's about all I can say
Mysigt! Men inte wow. Svag 4a eller stark 3a hmm
This is such a great psychedelia album. I think if you were tripping this album would hit so hard.
A couple of decent tracks on here, but most left no impression at all
Can’t fault it. Didn’t love it. Simpsons: quite hard to research given their name. Doubt it though.
Just found it boring.
It started off really well. I liked the first track, but it all went downhill from there. I was just waiting for it to end.
Alone Again Or is an incredible song and I love it so much. The rest of the album was fine.
While it overall isn't my vibe, there's a ton of heart put into this and it ends up being a very interesting album. They find a way to avoid the trap of 60s mediocrity, but there are certainly some misses. You can feel them smashing against the music barrier and putting a good dent in it. Favorites were Alone Again Or, A House is Not a Motel, Live and Let Live, and and Bummer in the Summer.
I’ve been sitting on this one for about a week giving it time to really marinate. This album is fantastic and has aged incredibly well. I listened to this immediately after listening to Younger Than Yesterday by The Byrds and it is shocking that these both released in 1967. The breadth of styles and instrumentation used here make every track seem like its own, yet they come together beautifully. I need a cover version of this album down entirely by the Muppets.
This was ok, a bit boring perhaps. There's some variety and nothing was actively bad. I often feel the Beatles are overrated, and hearing a similarish band from the same era makes me realise how much more interesting and modern the Beatles' sound is by comparison. Like this was fine but I'm not surprised I've never heard of this band before
People like this? I've tried to listen to this to get it maybe once a decade and every time come away feeling like, wow this is so lame and stupid. Boring, lame, uninteresting. Hard pass.
Enjoyable listen, nothing too jarring
This is pretty impressive. Unfamiliar with this band but a few songs sound familiar. I like it, 3 stars
Kinda obvious why it failed when first released. A couple of good tracks and a pile of garbage.
Enjoyed this a lot. I'd say it's probably as good as, or better than Odyssey and Oracle, which it sounds a bit like.
Ok
Very chill 60s vibes
Byrjaði ágætlega, en það varð ekkert meira úr því en ágætt.
Not great to be honest. Pretty boring
An underrated classic. The trumpets! Alone Again Or is one of my favorite songs. Bummer in the Summer and You Set the Scene rank highly as well. The rest of the album doesn't quite hold up to these three tracks, but it's good nonetheless.
The combination of folk, psychedelia, and the occasional mariachi element shouldn't work on paper. In addition, this album was recorded on analogue equipment, and the potential for mishaps was huge. Perhaps due to this eclecticism, the album did not achieve commercial success upon its release. It may have been a case of rotten luck, or perhaps the music industry wasn’t ready for something so unconventional. Fortunately, Forever Changes is now receiving all the retrospective praise it deserves. While it's easy to place the album alongside its late '60s contemporaries, it stands out from the crowd. This distinction could be due to the lush orchestral arrangements that appear throughout or possibly Bryan MacLean and Arthur Lee's tendency to take melodies in wholly unexpected directions—even after you've heard the songs multiple times. Additionally, there's a dark undercurrent to much of the material, setting it in sharp contrast to the more idealistic and hopeful releases of the era. Though Arthur Lee wrote the majority of the songs, Forever Changes feels incredibly cohesive, with the occasional input from Bryan MacLean adding a subtle yet distinct flavour. It's an album I can return to time and time again, and its layered complexity makes each listen feel fresh.
Ugh, I kind of want to give this a 3.5 but that’s not a thing so 3 it is. Too inconsistent. There are a few bangers but the rest doesn’t do enough to engage my interest. Never heard them before so I was intrigued and ultimately a tad disappointed
I like the sound and the energy here
An absolute guaranteed all-time classic, worthy of a full five stars. There's a reason that this album keeps appearing in Top Ten Albums Ever lists. The eleven tracks encompass the bright, poppy, hippy vibe of West Coast America, but also hint at something darker, just beneath the surface. If I could only have one record for the rest of my life, this would probably be it. If you've never heard it before, please, go and listen now.
I’ve never gotten this one. I suppose it ends up on everyone’s list because it’s weird and eclectic and so-called psychedelic. However, I feel it completely isn’t saying anything, either musically or lyrically. The fake medieval madrigal shizz gets so annoying, I find myself begging for the album to end. “The snot has caked against my pants” - is this a joke? The acoustic guitar and horns are so wack. Everything ends up sounding the same. Actually, “Alone Again Or” is kind of a catchy single, so I kind of want to give this album a second star. I just can’t.
Alone Again Or is a classic track, but the rest is not as special.
Mijnen eerste dubbele van deze generator! Ik ga deze nog altijd een 3.3 geven. Degelijk 60s album met voldoende flower power.
Meh.
I discovered Love in high school. I remember when I was feeling stressed I used to listen to them because of how tranquil I found it. Stills holds up.
‘67 was the Summer of Love, right? So, with that in mind, I was looking forward to writing a review about the irony that I had never heard of this band before. But after listening to this, I found them completely undistinguishable from any of a dozen other “pop folk“ bands from that era. Such a wasted opportunity.
I know what is sophisticated, and what is well produced, and then music critics go and rate an album like this 37th best ever. What?? While the arrangement can be well done, like on “Live and Let Live” (easily the best song on the album), the singing and the lyrics can also be a disaster, like on “andmoreagain.” Even the Wrecking Crew couldn’t fix what ailed this album.
Surprised to see how highly regarded Love is by critics. I found it very meh.
Quite a nice album
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. Far better than the majority of albums in this style from that era
I had never heard of this band before. The sound is somewhere between Doors and Beach Boys, dark and light at the same time. Very unique. The voice has something hypnotizing about it and it always feels a bit like being mocked. The arrangements are terrific. Really cool album.
Alone Again Or.
Very cool album enjoyed it so much. sounds so modern and new even though its almost 60 years old. 7-8/10
might be good?
Forgettable 60s gear
Easy listening. Nothing really remarkable but still nice.
I first heard about this in NME’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums, which when I was a budding music nerd I poured over almost religiously. It sounded interesting, mystical almost, and so fate must have had specific plans for me when I discovered a copy of the album on the floor of my garage one day when I was cleaning it out. It was one of those giveaway things that the British Tabloid’s did to try and get you to buy them in the late 2000’s, but the weird thing is that neither of my parents had even heard of Love (the band) when I talked to them about it. The mystical quality I imagined of this album comes through in the music and the lyrics, but it’s much darker than my 13 year old self could have imagined. Rabelesian humour is contrasted with absurdism and observations about love and madness, and set against a background of psychedelic folk that incorporates elements of hard rock, R&B and even flamenco. How does an album like this even get made, and why does it work so well? Forever Changes is one of my favourite albums, best evidenced by the fact that I’ve listened to it twice through while writing this review. I used to save it as a summer album but as I sit here in the mid autumn rain, and am still enjoying as much as I would on a balmy summer day, I think I can happily say that this is an album for all seasons. So put it on next time you’re in love, or feeling mentally deranged, and it’ll hopefully spark an appreciation that is constant, even if it Forever Changes
I really do not Love. I dunno man, I was just trying to be clever. I mean, it's o... k... Owes a lot to the production, which is maybe trying a little too hard to be the Beatles or something? Songwriting is stilted more than organic, forced. Just watched a live version of Arthur Lee doing \"Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale\" and the band he was with gave it the juice it needs, which it DOES NOT have on this album, none of the songs really do. With the possible exception of \"Live and Let Live.\" The lyrics on this leave me cold but I appreciate the effort. I've never heard this before, is a bit cynical inm the middle of the whole Flower Power movement. Baroque Pop and psych, leans into a folky space that collides with the songwriting a bit. By that I mean the lyrics have a more "pop" style, repetitive words or phrases, a verse/chorus/verse structure. Simon and Garfunkel use the pop formula to great effect by integrating folky sounds and vocal harmonies. These guys need to rock, I think. Interesting album and a unique band for sure. Sounds pretty dated. I'm sure I would have more affinity toward this if I was there at the time or understood the context better.
Middle of the road, there was some interesting arrangemente going on. But the singing ir lyrics didn't grab me
Actually pretty chill, groovy, 60s sound without being cheesy or overly jammy. Found that sweet spot right in the middle. I like it.
Like
not really my thing
Okay. I went into this feeling very curious. This album is one of heard *of* for years and years - decades - but never *heard* as I grew up in the era where you had to buy music to hear it rather than stream it. I know nothing of the group apart from the singer was important or something. I seem to remember this is a very influential album? Like, one cited by other musicians a lot and I’ve seen the cover image on t-shirts and posters many times. It’s “iconic.” Very hip. Very underground. I had no idea what the music might sound like. I imagined it might be funk? Or Santana-style mystical rock? Or maybe even a precursor to punk? So when it started I was disappointed. It sounded like “general Ironside hippy music” which is another of my terms - it’s from watching an episode of Ironside where they go into a hippy bar - though obviously it’s a flimsy set with actors and extras with relatively short hair but wearing clothes of primary colours and big necklaces - and in the background there’s what studio execs think is “freak out” music. It’s sort of like pop music of the time with some similar sounds but weaker and washed out. So that’s what the album sounded like to me to start with. But the second song had a Santana tone guitar with a simple punky riff in the middle of it and I perked up a bit. And as it went on there’s something to the chord sequences and sound that is a little unusual and interesting. There’s something more to it… It was probably ground breaking *for the time.* There’s a positive version of “generic Ironside hippy music” for me. It has the same sound but is good. And that’s “sounds like it could have been on the soundtrack of Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas”. For me I think this falls somewhere between the two at the moment. Although, I did keep finding myself thinking “When is this going to end so I can put on something else?” …which isn’t a good sign! Might have to come back to it. Seems like possible morning coffee chill out music?
Always loved this….
Andmoreagain // Maybe // You Set The Scene 3.5/5
Overrated but still a 5