Reviews (page 9 of 14)
It's an alright album, 7.5/10 for me, I guess.
psychedelic rock 救我狗命
That was fun, knew singles but not the album
I get the blues progression, I feel like the lizard king is mediocre and only held in high regard because people were high. I'm not mad at it. Completely adequate album but I'm nor seeking it out.
Very different sound to the last Doors album I reviewed. I prefer the lean into blues rock much more
Loved it. Good memories.
Some songs would be a five and others I didn’t really enjoy it all. But yeah, he’s a legend.
- 9/10 songs added to main playlist - Favorite song: Riders on the Storm
This is a blues rock album, no way around it. The band is hitting firing on all cylinders and the vocals are great. The playing is really tight and overall I feel like it takes the best parts of blues and the best parts of psychedelic rock and combines them into a great package. I must admit, I find that is starts a little weak, but as the album goes on it gets better and better. The first two tracks aren't my favourite, but the third track 'Been Down So Long' picks things up and chugs along nicely. 'L.A. Woman' which is bluesy rock and roll is tied for the best track along with 'Riders on the Storm' which is a journey. 'L'America' and 'Hyacinth House' are both great but a little weirder than the rest. Overall a fun album, and I enjoyed listening to it quite a lot.
What a way to close out your discography! (We don't mention the other ones). Easily my second favorite Doors album behind their debut. It is really sad that Jim Morrison died after this album, because I think this album has some of their best song writing and I would have loved to see where they would have taken this sound. There are a couple of songs near the end that I am not super crazy about (but still enjoy), but besides those this album is very fun to sing along to and just have a good time. Also if you don't like the "Mr. Mojo rising" section you should question what you are doing. Mid 5.
#402. I think I remember saying on a different review that I didn't listen to The Doors much before, but it wasn't as strange as I remember them being. I think this one though must the one that I remember being strange, because there are a few good songs here, but most of it leaves you wondering what the hell is going on. 3/5: acceptable Song added to playlist: Rider on the Storm I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Old school blues, rock
very nice
Great album. Multiple classics, and loved the blues tunes as well.
Heard the album before. A couple of great songs but overall The Doors don't hold up as well as some other classic rock bands. Soft 3
only one good song
Very good, didn’t realize Jim Morrison had such a blues voice. Remember to watch the movie.
A few classics on this album.
Wasn’t impressed by this album. It was cool to find out that The Doors sing Riders on the Storm. Never would have expected that. But the rest of it was just okay. Nothing here for me. Standouts: Love Her Madly and Riders on the Storm.
3.5
Classic Doors.
Sure, it's The Doors. Sure, it's got Riders On The Storm on it. Is it the best Doors album? No. Is it a five star album? Yes.
I couldn't do 3.5 hours, so just listened to the 10 songs from the original album. Loved it! 5/5
very good vibes
Really good stuff. More standard performance from the Doors but a lot tighter in most places. Some really great songs here, love the bluesy focus
The last Doors record as far as I'm concerned. Morrison's voice is reduced to a growl for a lot of this record. Lots of great songs on here (the title track is my favorite Doors song) and some mehh songs. Still a great record
I've always been a fan of the doors but I can tell you that this is not my favorite album of theirs. I felt that the 3 so-called radio singles are the best songs. The rest of everything else seems like a lot of filler. Nothing really memorable or catchy about it. It's one of those albums that I probably won't listen to again. If you like the lizard king poet, there are a few moments on here where he shines, but the loose blues feel doesn't really pull you in too often if at all. 3/5
If you take the worst parts of the blues and joined it together with most boring parts of psychedelic rock, and have it be performed by the most boringly named band, with boring and uncreative album art, then you end up with this shit. What is the appeal here? White people who don't want to listen to real blues music? Whack ass overrated album.
Funny how this was a posthumous release because I was also looking for an early exit on this one. It was already feeling pretty slow but I wanted to tap out just a few songs in once he started yelping towards the end of Car Hiss by my Window.
More like L.AY down(for a nap) by the Snores
Yeah I'm a Doors fan I love that all their albums not only benefit from multiple listens but demand them, and each time they reveal something a little more 8/10 Fav tracks - All-2 Least fav - Hyacinth house, crawling king snake
The Doors were the first band I really got properly into when I 'got into music'. Blah blah blah it's a psyop whatever yeah Jim Morrison's dad was responsible for the Gulf of Tonkin and started American involvement in the Vietnam war. Well his son died a fat bloated overdosed corpse in Paris so I think that's pretty decent karmic balance. This album rips open with The Changeling and Love Her Madly, songs I have probably heard more than my own name and I cannot get sick of them. Manzarek's on the keyboard really shines on both of these songs, but the same is true for basically every single Doors song where his keyboard work is the best part of it (sure as shit isn't the lyricism). Been Down So Long and Cars Hiss by My Window are a lull, not a whole lot to say about these songs. L.A. Woman, really probably the best song the Doors ever did, really a culmination of Morrison's vocals/nonsense lyrics working perfectly with the instrumentation from the band. If this album is a bookend with their debut, this is like if you took The End and made it a good song. L'America/la snoozefest. Hyacinth House is a deep cut I've always been a fan of, it's a shame this song doesn't get talked about but bullshit like Soul Kitchen gets glazed to no end. Crawling King Snake, The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) AKA 'I am waiting for the end of this side so I can listen to Riders on the Storm'. What else is there to say about Riders on the Storm other than this song fucking slaps six ways to Sunday? Most of the time I listened to this song on shitty cheap ipod headphones so it was a whole new experience to listen to it on a decent hi-fi system and really be able to soak it in.
For my money the Doors may be the most underrated band from the classic rock era. I love this album from start to finish. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-la-woman-by-the-doors?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
It's not even the hits, although they are stellar, it's the playing that gets me, especially Manzarek. Just brilliant.
3.5
I've rounded this up because I like The Doors but it loses its way at times.
Riders on the Storm is the only reason this album is on the list. The rest is pretty bad
As a girl who had a the Doors phase when she was 15 and even wrote a book that was heavily influenced by them. I can only give them 5stars.
I recognize the Doors are a very influential band and I only saw some of that in this album. I think it was very instrumental but wasn’t strong enough in that area for me to be completely impressed. I definitely understand why this is an enjoyable album, however I didn’t love it.
Eh. 3rd Doors album is about 2.5 too many. I'm probably in the lower end of the demographic that *should* theoretically like The Doors, but Morrison's voice and Manzarek's lounge-keyboard have always rubbed me the wrong way. On this album you add those ingredients to mostly shitty bluesy songs ("Been Down So Long" is hideous) and you've got shit soup. "L'America" holycow you've got to make an effort to put out a song as bad as that one. HOWEVER! Some positive notes -> saving this album are two songs I actually like: the title track comes just in time at track 5 - it works despite Morrison's ... meta-Morrison thing. This song takes you on a ride so much more than nearly anything else they ever did. Best though is the final cut - it's hard to argue with "Riders On The Storm" though - that's a great mood piece. TL;DR: Take those 2 songs and kill the rest quickly. 5/10 2 stars.
A defining album with strong songs and strong performance
Okay, full disclosure, I think the Doors are the most overrated band in History!!!!!!
Great! Shoutout to my GF for giftin it to me on wax. Probably my fav doors album. Favourite Line: "If they say I never loved you You know they are a liar" Riders on the storm x snoop dogg for nfs even went hard lmaooo 5.0/5.0 def one of my jams
L.A. Woman I’ve never really given the Doors albums a proper listen. Not sure why as I really like them. I probably have listened to this one more than any of their others though, but I’m not really that familiar with it. Bold strategy to open with Bag it Up by Geri Halliwell. But each to their own. In reality it's a great little blues rock groove, with those great keyboard touches and augmentations you’d expect from Manzarek. Love Her Madly is obviously a classic bit of 60s pop, but the evenness of the album does reveal itself with Been Down So Long, one of a few vaguely aimless blues-jazz jams with some shouty Morrison on top. Cars Hiss by My Window is brighter, but still feels a little rudderless, although some of the guitar is soulfully sweet. L.A. Woman though is superb, probably my favourite Doors song, the rhythm, the organ, the groove, the hot late night seediness. Fantastic track. His voice on L’America is great and it’s angularity before dipping into some classic West Coast sunshine melody before heading back into a sinister mood is pleasingly off beat and odd in a great way. Hyacinth House really is very lovely. If you are a Doors fan I presume this is pretty well known, but for me it's a bit of an overlooked gem, a great atmosphere and some excellent drumming. I wasn’t keen on Crawling King Snake on the first listen, but I really liked it on the 2nd and 3rd listen - the presence of a real bassist is great, and it’s menacing groove is superbly played. A cut above the other bluesy stuff on here. Similarly I liked The WASP more on repeated listens, even if the musical/organ breakdowns feel a bit cheesy and overall it’s not one of the stronger tracks. And then of course the excellent and trippy Riders on the Storm, a great bit of 60s bluesy psychedelia. Krieger really shines with his reverby licks. Despite some unevenness, the highs of The Changeling, Love Her Madly, LA Woman, Hyacinth House and Riders on the Storm, and their skill as musicians make it a cut above, and lands it as an easy 4. 🚪🚪🚪🚪 Playlist submission: L.A. Woman
some bangers
Possibly the best Doors album. And the last with the Lizard King still alive.
This album lived on repeat in my head as a teenager. I always wanted to be Jim Morrison. I had a hair to match. Great from start to end
I don't think this one stacks up to their original, but definetly has some great hits in it. Riders on The Storm is a fantastic tune and it set a nice vibe
It was fine. Felt longer than it actually was. Some good stuff, but often repetitive and slow
Their peak - grizzled, nearly burnt out, but swinging the blues. Great music to drive to, especially
I’m sure it’s critically good, but feels a bit samey. Enjoyable, but drags on for me.
one of my fav
i'm not from LA but the album is still cool i guess
I don't remember ever listening to this one end-to-end. The hits have always been staples and are great and the rest of the album has a cool blues feel that I love. Good stuff.
nice vibe
Fav: L.A. Woman Least Fav: Crawling King Snake
Boa música dos anos 70. Músicas favoritas: Love her madly, l’america e Riders of the storm.
realmente um rock dos anos 70, é isso
Not my first blues rock, but definitely my first album by "The Doors". They do a fantastic job of writing blues instrumentation and lyrics, making it a really enjoyable listen. I also wasn't expected some of the psychadelic influences on this one, which was a nice surprise. Favorites were Love Her Madly, L.A.Woman, Hyacinth House, and Riders on the Storm.
I still don’t love The Doors. A couple of these songs are pretty good, but I just don’t think I like Jim Morrison’s voice and style too much. The musicianship is all there so it’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination. I just wouldn’t choose to put this on over others doing a similar sound. Favorite songs were the title track, The WASP, and Riders On The Storm
Not really my jam. Some good songs (Riders on the storm), but some of it just drags on.
Snake attack
Eh, white boy blues. Nothing new here. Nothing to say.
this is one of the few doors albums from their peak run that i hadn't heard prior to the challenge. definitely their bluesiest material; the 12 bars hang deep over a lot of the songs here, and having 4 of those songs in near identical keys front to back opening the record could be a rough sell for those who want a bit more melodic and harmonic variety. the album then threatens to get more interesting with that truly ugly opening on the title track, only to basically move to a 1-chord blues!!!! it's absolutely absurd! and this partially ties into something that i think is really missing from here as compared to my favorite doors albums: ray manzarek. jim morrison is obviously the heart of the doors in a lot of ways, but manzarek is the soul with him too. the best doors songs allow that dude to go completely insane on the organs, both with his tone and with his weird melodic instinct. have you ever thought about just how ridiculous the opening of light my fire is? well, you will listening to this because he's mostly absent from the album and when he is here, he's actively de-emphasised! a baffling decision to be honest, because while the doors are one of THE rock bands, they were never a guitar band. jim morrison was, as i understand it, in pretty bad shape especially with regards to alcohol around this time, so it's a marvel that his performances here sell the hell out of what are some kind of uninspired lyrics. the self-titled has this masterful narrative arc of describing a party at the end of the world and he lives up to the title of rock poet so often that these songs feel really underwritten by comparison. the self-titled subverts traditional party blues expectations so much that seeing this record play them straight is kind of disappointing. and i'm not touching the wasp lol. there are some moments i like here. the creeping quiet of cars hiss by my window and l'america are both quite effective, at least until the latter turns into YET ANOTHER boring blues song for a brief moment. and like, the recording quality of these songs is very good, so everything thumps and rollicks like it's supposed to. it just lacks a lot of my favorite parts of the doors.
riders on the storm is a perfect song, what a choice to end the album with it
Love Her Madly and Riders are great; the rest is OK 3.4
Listening to Riders on the Storm without Snoop Dogg feels weird, but that's I played so much Need For Speed: Underground 2 when I was younger. Still a good song and album though
Top 👍
I always feel like I SHOULD like the Doors. They do have a few songs that I like alot. But generally I just want them to get over themselves. Most of their songs could be half the length and be fine. Could be an attention span thing. I can hear the talent and like some components but am usually ready for their songs to be done WAY before they end.
Mix of radio hits, generic blues songs, and songs that sound like they were on a bender just jamming. The less prominent role of the Hammond Organ makes this my favorite Doors album. Solid 3.5 out of 5 so we'll round up.
I recently drove thru the Mojave Desert and in anticipation of that drive, I created a playlist. Riders on the Storm is such a great tune and was a perfect desert song. Morrison’s passion shines thru on L.A. Woman and the band hammers out some great blues rock. After the standout track, Love Her Madly, they his us with the excellent, Been Down So Long where Jim sings as a down and out prisoner. Jim Morrison is one of the all time great frontmen and his poetry and energy are at the forefront here. Great album 4 stars
That’s more like it, great record
Very Blues-y. All of the Jim Morrison-era Doors albums coming within a 4-year period is pretty crazy. The only actual favourite Doors song of mine on this album is Riders on the Storm, weird considering it's usually one of the most well-known albums.
One of the all time greats still as good as the first time I hear it
A few good classic tracks & the rest is just blues filler with an annoying organ.
Another one of my favorites from The Doors. “Love Her Madly,” “L.A Woman” and “Riders On The Storm” are all essentials to the discography but really this whole album has some of their more genre pushing almost prog sounding songs like “The Changeling,” “L’America,” “Hyacinth House” and “The WASP”. The rest of the songs maintain The Doors’ love affair with the blues. Hard to give this one anything less than a 5 for me.
Some of my favorite songs on this one, Love Her Madly and the title track. This album gets a bit weird toward the back half. Sounds like a band that has been drinking all night, then had to get up on stage and perform. Riders on the Storm is a great ending to the album. Solid 4.5 on this.
Several quintessential Doors songs here, but the ones I'm less familiar with are just as solid, as Jim and the band let the spirit of blues and American myth and ethos inhabit them and transform into something creative and spiritual that flows effortlessly.
I'm a sucker for The Doors man. Another banger from them. L'America, The Wasp, L.A Woman, Love Her Madly....all great driving songs. Riders On The Storm is simply next level creativity that takes you on a journey. Take another bow gents.
3.8
I listened to this a few times and feel like I enjoyed it more with further listens. Some fantastic blues-rock and a lot more developed and hooky than their debut which I thought was good but not great. My biggest gripe is the vocals but overall, I can see myself coming back to this when I'm in the mood.
Thoughts before listening: The Doors get a lot of hate in modern times. This seems to be more because of Jim Morrison's over the top (and often cringey) persona and the fact that every high school stoner goes through a Doors phase then any actual critique of their music. I have always found their sound to be one of the more interesting takes on the blues based 60s rock sound. This is definitely one of their better albums so I am glad to see it on the list. Review: This is one of the Doors most straight forward blues rock albums, and that makes it a favorite of mine. The title track alone is a rollicking, upbeat classic that builds in intensity throughout, and the album also includes "Love Her Madly", "Riders on the Storm", and a great opening deep cut in "The Changeling". All in all I'll give this 4-stars as one of the best from such an important band.
I want to love it but other than the three best songs (including "Love her madly", which is probably one of my most played songs ever) the rest of the album is pretty mid comparatively. I listened three times just to make sure, and yeah... it's alright.
Ride the lightning ah album
I hate California
This album sounds like it was recorded at the bottom of a whiskey bottle. Morrison drones on about being some kind of mysterious “L.A. man,” but really, he sounds more like a lost tourist at a karaoke bar. The Doors managed to take every psychedelic cliché and shove it into one bloated album. If I wanted to listen to a midlife crisis, I’d call my uncle and ask him how he’s doing.
Had some nice songs but didn't care for most of it.
maybe a 1.5. Reading nick's review beforehand really elevated this. Bro went from hot ass to mid with riders on the storm (more like 'please end!!')
Classic Doors, love the blues feel throughout. This is damn good stuff.
Got bored. Probably just didn't grow up hearing these bit of it were new today it wouldn't register with me
I spent a lot of time over the course of this album thinking about the myth and legacy of The Doors. Which is really to say, "the myth and legacy of Jim Morrison," 'coz even though the band released a few more albums after Morrison passed... They don't count. Not really. Which isn't to discount the rest of the members, but that's besides the point. If there's one thing I remember hearing about The Doors, more than anything, it's that they were pretentious. That, y'know, Jim Morrison was some stuck-up, head-in-his-ass, "sensitive poet laureate," and that made The Doors's music incredibly lame and wince-y. That's certainly how the band's biopic (the one where Val Kilmer played Morrison) put it. And as much as I'd wanna proclaim that I'm a free thinker who doesn't fall into accepting public opinion like that, I feel like I still kind of did? 'Coz even as I enjoyed a lot of Doors music (mostly their hits), there was always this thought in the back of my head that if I dug any further, I'd uncover those pretentions everyone was talking about. The poems and whatnot. So besides a greatest hits compilation album, I never really did go any further than "Touch Me" and "Break On Through" and, at most, "The End". This is another album where I hafta thank Abigail Devoe for helping me find a better way to think about this stuff. See, Jim Morrison was a fat kid. He loved poetry. His father was a Navy man. His birth name was James Bouglas Morrison. He wasn't cool — he was kind of a square, actually. And, sure, he might have slimmed down by the time The Doors recorded their first album, but... Well, at heart, he was still that same fat kid. That slim appearance was never going to last. Just check out how much he still liked blueberry pancakes. So, instead of viewing Morrison as some big, important, up-his-arse poet, I took to him more as, y'know: a nerd. One who still wanted to be a serious poet — and he was one; he wasn't buried in Père Lachaise for nothing — but who probably wasn't **as** much of a jerk as the biopic made him out to be. (Though he might've still been one, I'unno.) And while I'm sure I still would've enjoyed this album either way, viewing this album through that framework did a **lot** for me. Heck, for one, it helped me accept and like The Doors' blues tunes a lot more. I wasn't so hot on them when I heard MORRISON HOTEL, and for all I know maybe the ones here are just better, but I really dug what I heard. Of course it's nothing like what you'd get from the traditional blues masters, but, damn, you put Ray Manzerik's keys on just about anything... And, oof, boy, Morrison's voice. It's **really** good on this stuff. Then there's the lyrics and poetry. As per usual, I didn't take them in as well as everything else. I'm "melody first," let's remember. But let me tell you, accepting the fact that the poetry was here, like... Just because he wanted his poetry to be put to music, I was actually able to take it more seriously than if "taking it seriously" was the expectation to begin with. I still probably didn't get much out of it, 'coz I'm bad at deciphering poetry, but, hey, still. That's better than I figured I would've done before. I actually **liked** "The WASP". I also wanna specifically spotlight "Riders On The Storm", the album's closer. For my money, this is the best song here — big shock I pick the song most people regularly consider the best on the album, I know. But, y'know, I think it's the best because, in my eyes, it's to The Doors what "The Show Must Go On" was to Queen. Of course, it's not a 1:1 comparison (the rest of the Doors didn't know that Jim didn't have much longer), but as the songs that ended up being the final songs on their respective final albums... I really can't think of better songs for them to end on. "Riders On The Storm" is the ultimate culmination of everything The Doors had done, and listening to it this time, I couldn't help but imagine this cinematic shot of Morrison riding off down a desert road, trailed by snakes and desert lizards. Which is maybe a bit too reverent of an image for how I now perceive him, but it's just what came to mind. (Also, shout out to "Hyacinth House"; I might honestly pick that as my favorite "deep cut.") I really think I understand and appreciate The Doors and their music a lot better than I used to. I'll tell you for sure, before I gained the new frame I did, I would've enjoyed this album, but at best it would've been a good 4, elevated to such by the presence of "Riders On The Storm". But coming out of this listen... Yeah, damn, it's a 5. It's a good-ass 5. The Doors were way more than the psychedelics and pretentious I'd originally pegged them with. Really, the only complaint I can think to have is the same one Abby had: that the title track should've been the opener. Seriously, just put it there in front of "The Changeling" and don't do anything else and it's perfect. But, yeah. Morrison, like every other member of the unfortunate club way too many are a part of, deserved to live longer. To have had a chance to play revisionist with his own history instead of the people like those who made his band's biopic. But as unfortunate and tragic as his passing was... Damn, if he and the rest of the band didn't leave a damn good musical legacy, and one hell of an album to close their book on. (Again, ignoring the ones the band released after Morrison passed; they don't count.)
Once again, The Doors show why they're one of the greatest groups of the 60's and 70's. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. That’s just a great album. I don’t really know quite what to say – it’s not the most technically sound, even though the band is on fire for most of it (save for the rather dull Been Down So Long). It’s not the most well written, even though there’s some great lines on here. It’s just an album that oozes charisma from top to bottom, and that charisma creates an undeniable confidence that makes for a pretty damn good 48 minutes. I do think a few tracks are a little too long, and a few tracks aren’t super captivating, but when the album hits those points, it’s still a really smooth listen that eventually pulls you back in. I will say this – I genuinely don’t think I liked it as much as Morrison Hotel. I don’t know if that’s sacrilege, but I think that album just had a greater variance of styles and slightly tighter composition for my tastes. Seriously, I got nothing. It’s got good blues, good rock, some strong vocals, and it’s 48 minutes that fly by (save for a few longer spots). I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5 because I just enjoyed it that much. Sometimes, you don’t have to justify it. I liked it.
liked it more than i expected. outside of my wheelhouse
Much more country than I remember but is a repeat listen from now on. Excellent songs, fitting to listen to... 4.3
I'm generally a fan of the band, and this particular record shows a lot of mastery -- it's very straightforward in places with a great bluesy rock and roll feel, and totally weird in other places. The keyboard parts are awesome.
Like the acidy, laid back feeling of a number of the song, but it's nothing exiting. Passes by easily, but stays passed by. Best song: L'America Worst Song: The Changeling
It was better than Morrison Hotel, but it's still boring and repetetive. The vocalist seems drowzy and so tired at times I can smell the alcohol breath from afar. I read about how people admire his introspection, but I seriously doubt he knows what he's talking about half the time. Best song: Riders on the Storm Worst song: Cars Hiss by My Window
I was introduced to The Doors by a friend at 19 and this was always one of my favourite albums by them for the strong blues element. Some music I listened to a lot as a student are hard to go back to now (too close to old emotions) but not The Doors.
Very good! I was a big fan of The Doors back in my early teenage years, when I had long hair and baggy pants. But honestly I mostly just stuck with a single greatest hits album. This one feels a little more... all over the map. The almost growling vocals are still super unique to this day, and at my current age I see them as more aggressive.
The bluesy stuff works better than the “heroin” stuff. A lot of this album is good, but many songs run out of gas before they end. “L’America” is a major low point, and “Riders on the Storm” is overrated. However, the title track is very good. CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT: Jim Morrison’s reputation as a “poet” is undeserved, and The Doors would not have endured like they have if he hadn’t died young.
Oh my god The Doors are so painfully BORING. Why did so many 60s groups feel the need to bang directionless on an organ for 4 minutes in a 7 minute song? And Jim Morrison just sat there tunelessly "singing" for the whole fucking album. I was almost tempted to give this a 1 just because of how highly rated this utter dog shit was, but it's still not as bad as bjork
Love it then and now.
Feel a bit bad in rating this so low since I do know how influential the doors are (and I can see the stems of that influence in here). But good god this is one of the most middling and annoying records I’ve listened to. No Jim Morrison I do not think that you wailing the word ‘woman’ in various afflictions counts as a good song structure!
The changeling has some power. But Morrison’s voice and imagery still doesn’t grab me.
Why do people hate The Doors? I mean I guess if you don’t like 60’s rock, I know right guitar-centric music they wouldn’t really be for you. But other than that, I don’t get the hate. Maybe folks haven’t heard more than “Light My Fire,” “Break on Through,” and “This is the End.” I know I hadn’t heard much more before today and I still liked them. This was a great album. Great elements of blues rock, hard rock, with some psychedelia thrown in. Starts off hot and stays there for about half the album. I really thought we were destined for five stars here but everything after “L.A. Woman” and “Riders on the Storm” didn’t hit quite the same. Still though, I found very little to dislike here. I really think this is every member at their peak as musicians and creators. If someone only had one album to listen to for The Doors, it might be this one. Such energy, such cohesiveness. Really just a great time of an album. Four stars. Standout Tracks: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, Been Down So Long, Car Hiss by My Window, L.A. Woman, Riders on the Storm
I don't think it aged that well. With so much variety and soundscapes and production these days, it seemed flat.
I found every song interesting and i liked almost every song on it on Spotify.
Great album start to finish. One of the classics in my book.
Surprisingly funky!
Great listen, The Doors always hit the mark! However, not as enjoyable as Strange Days nor their self-titled debut for me. Too bluesy. Hyacinth House and Riders on the Storm were my favourite songs, with honourable mentions for Love Her Madly, Car Hiss by My Window and LA Woman.
Classic the doors, but everything sounds the same.
Nice songs, big 3
meh
not what i expected the doors to sound like (classic rock). notable song--Riders on the Storm
Enjoyable album, but lots of filler songs for me.
80% Best: Love Her Madly; L.A. Woman; Riders on the Storm Must-Hear?: Sure
Jus the doors
1. The Changeling - 3,8 2. Love Her Madly - 3,6 3. Been Down So Long - 3,3 4. Cars Hiss by My Window - 3,1 5. L.A. Woman - 4,2 6. L’America - 3,1 7. Hyacinth House - 3,5 8. Crawling King Snake - 3,2 9. The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) - 3,4 10. Riders on the Storm - 4,1
I really enjoy the Doors but never find myself putting them on. This is a great example of their work. The keys/organ in particular are a big highlight (most of the time). Jim's vocals can get somewhat grating after a while but this is an above average album for sure. Riders on the Storm- what else do you need. 8/10 (4/5)
Ikkje lika bra som Morrison Hotel
This is my first Doors album on here, and it's their last before Jim Morrison died. I didn't dislike this at all, but it's very much a Blues rock album, and I struggle a bit with the Blues rock thing. "Love Her Madly" and "Riders on the Storm" are probably the best songs on here, and they're a little bit more in the psychedelic rock side of things. But a lot of the rest of the album is a heavy Blues sound, and I find it a harder style for me to get into and harder for bands to stand out to me. I could see myself coming around to this more once I get a little better sense of the Doors other music, but for now it's perfectly ok but a little unexceptional to me. Favorite song: Riders on the Storm Other: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman, L'America 10/2/24
This completely surprised me. I was expecting long drawn out organ solos, but it had great guitar riffs and complete mix of different styles. Would definitely listen to this again. Very different to the doors i have been exposed to
really liked the album
Classic that belongs a lot higher than this.
Pretty chill, mellow rock album. A few good ones. Good background music.
Not the best thing I heard that day.
Never been crazy on the doors, but this album is just cool. That's the best way to describe it. I can imagine myself cruising California in the summer with the top down and shades on, playing this album. I was leaning 3 star and rider on the storm as the closer pushed it to 4
Old school rock
Suffers a little from Jim putting on his blues voice for most of the tracks.
I really enjoyed the changeling, love her madly, LA woman and of course riders on the storm, but really wasn’t a big fan of the other tracks on this :(
first few seconds of "Crawling King Snake" is nice, "Hyacinth House" is the most interesting song
Brilliant
++: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, Been Down So Long, Cars Hiss by My Window, L.A. Woman, L'America, Crawling King Snake, Riders on the Storm +: Hyacinth House, The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) 9,4/10
I liked their other album more, this was a bit boring. Stand-out: Riders of the Storm
I don't know what but something is missing. It just seems like what all the rock bands were doing at the time. It's ok to listen to but there's just not a lot that makes it stand out from the others. I think I might need another listen. Highlights: Hyacinth House
Shoutout to Ray Manazarek the greatest keyboardist in the history of rock.
I think this is probably my favorite Doors album -- but I'd been away from them for so long (before this little project) that I lost track of it. Probably the most solid album from front to back that Jimmy Snakepants and the boys put together. Aside from the silly "L'America" and the unfocused "Hyacinth House" -- they're all pretty solid tracks. Unexpected bangers: Cars Hiss by My Window, The WASP
This morning I said “I like the Doors”. I realize now I meant “I like the EARLY Doors”. I admit I like Riders on the Storm but note how different it is from the rest of the album.
It’s fine. Familiar with part of it by listening to the radio for decades. Just isn’t my bag, frankly.
Songs like "Love Her Madly," "L.A. Woman" and "Riders on the Storm" are great. The rest is all right. Jim Morrison attempts to impersonate a guitar solo and/or harmonica on "Cars Hiss by My Window."
Very Doors!
I wanted this to be the moment that I get the Doors. It is not. It's a good band entirely given over to the rampant egomania of a singer who isn't talented enough to make it worthwhile. Like Oasis, which I'm sure Doors fans will be delighted with.
And so my personal debate begins, but I think I like their previous album just slightly more. It’s more adventurous musically, with its mysterious vibe that it creates and sustains throughout. This has some of that moody vibe to, but it’s just not as cohesive. Part of it for me is Morrison slips a little too hard into his down on his luck booze fiend Shaman that took me out of the moment at times when it went a little too overboard, but there’s still some major gems here sonically.
Ohhh, lot of songs on here that I don’t know. La woman is my favorite doors song. Wonder how much of this record is filler. Very bluesy. Wouldn’t call any of it filler. I like it. Easy 4 for me.
The Doors aren’t my favorite, but this is a very good Doors album.
nice to hear the whole album
Quiet whiny pop rock, to what will presumably be a lot more up front. Let’s give these hippies a whirl. Good first song. Exciting, foreboding in a weird way. Probably the organ. Anyway, it went too long, but it was cool. This one is more lame. More bar rock and too much warbling. Man that riff is so friendly. It’s funny. Get outta here with this one. Ohhh yeah. This is cool. More growly, blues influenced. Hell yeah. Simple riff. Whoever wrote the last one is out. Maybe. I don’t research these albums for these word vomit reviews. I mean it repeats too much, but the wailing guitar solos and vocal changes keep this one fairly interesting. Good. Another blues song with vocal modulation to sound like a fuckin harmonica?? Gold. The title track??!? In this part of the album, in this part of the review localized entirely within this text box?? Yes. Anyway. It’s fine. Not as good for me. The blues was a better direction for this album. Pray 4 Mo Jo. L’America is translated to “The America.” That one was free. Oh god that intro is cool. Eerie. Hell yeah. Out front angry hippies are so much cooler than secretly angry and hateful peace and love hippies. Oh man. Nooooooo. Why did it change?? Keep the sinister early black sabbath shit. Ok it’s back. Transylvanian keyboard solo. Then it leaves for a literal public domain riff. I still think this thing is so cool. Definite highlight. Well. What are they doing in the Hyacinth house? Whatever it is, it may have something to do with sleeping pills. Is that too soon? Whatever. This is middling to suck. Ehhh are we screeching to a halt here? Or just lurching to a chug? This one is not great either. It just sort of faded in. It’s sloppy , listless, white guy blues. Alright. This is weird, which I like, but the music sucks. The lamest ideas from like 50s torch music end up on the chorus. I like when it is more driving but there’s not enough of it. Too many breaks for relatively uninspiring solos. And the big hit from this one. I think. I don’t know. I’ve heard it before. This is the Doors that I picture. Kind of lame. But then again, popular music is often big time lame. Yeah this thing is meh. I like the whispering backup vocals a little bit, but that’s where it ends. Some real big wins here. Some songs that I will never revisit. That levels out to a solid, serviceable and relatively enjoyable release. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: The Changeling, Been Down so Long, Cars Hiss by my Window, L’America
Been Down So Long, might be my favorite Doors song, I like this one.
So it’s really3 stars for 3 songs on this one. Love Her Madly, LA Woman and Riders on the Storm. The rest feel like typical Doors songs. It really emphasizes how much the 2 disc cd “best of” really does capture the best of the Doors output.
first listen cool stuff
Not my forte, still enjoyed it a little bit
I always found Jim Morrison's troubled persona to be more interesting than the band itself. The Doors had some great songs but their big picture didn't move me to become a big fan. This was just OK.
The 3 hits are very good. The rest isn't worth listening to.
Sonoridade maravilhosa da década de 70.
Classic rock is classic. In this case, I thought it was 60s rock but it was recorded in 1971. Oops. Enjoyable, this last blast of Morrison on the green side of the Great Divide.
No
A perfect album with some of the most mythical lyrics of Jim and some perfect songs, like L.A. Woman
Eén van hun beste albums, heerlijk ruw. Beetje tragisch, want je hoort wel dat Morrison misschien een beetje te veel aan bepaalde substanties zat.
Not my type of music. Probably wouldn’t listen to this. Can understand the style and genre of music though
That should have been ME sucking Jim Morrison off in the recording booth
Uno de los mejores trabajos de The Doors, al menos en mi opinión. La producción del disco y las composiciones denotan un leve cambio de sonido, tornándose un poco más pesado y más influenciado por el Blues. Todo, por supuesto, con toques "alternativos" que influenciarían a toda la escena que vino después del legendario acto liderado por Morrison. Pista favorita: Love Her Madly. Altamente recomendado. Si nota 3 estrellas es por tema de afinidades personales y no por la calidad del LP.
Very Bluesy and Dark. Everything is great here, as per usual, and they always seem to know how to end their albums in the best way possible; Riders on the Storm here rounding it out like the classic it is.
I loved the bluesy feel here. It didn’t feel like a repeat of their other album I heard, so they were continuing to experiment and grow. Solid throughout.
A little too bluesy for me but it did leave me feeling high which is always a positive
Rating: 9/10 Amazing album overall. Very catchy, bluesy, and even a bit experimental. The highlights are particularly incredible, some of the band's best material is on here. The rest of the album is still great, more blues-inspired than the other Doors albums which was quite enjoyable. Definitely a dip in quality on Side B, Side A is 5 stars though. Favorite songs: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, Been down so Long, Cars Hiss by My Window, L.A. Woman, Crawling King Snake, Riders on the Storm. Worst song: L'America.
pretty goated gonna be real. i lov da door:s!
Pre-listening thoughts: I think I’ve literally only heard Light My Fire before by the Doors. Sorry classic rock fans I’ve failed you! Post/during listening thoughts: this is kinda awesome. Groovy in the right places, bluesy in others. (Oh 12 bar blues form you never seem to fade away 😭). Pretty standard classic rock but I seem to be a 45 yr old man in terms of my music taste half the time cause I like this kind of stuff sorry! 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: not really no but not a bad listen Fav tracks: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, L’America, The Hyacinth House Least fav tracks: listen the blues is fine but goddd 12 bar blues form gets so repetitive after so many songs/albums! Sorry to Cars Hiss By My Window and Crawling King Snake. Also don’t do talking aka WASP
Listened to this twice, because I somehow knew it would grow on me the more I listen to it. It's pretty great with this blues-rock vibe that I really enjoy.
Morrison: "I am the Lizard King, I can do anything." Rest of the band: "Yeah, that's great and all, Jim. But can we just jam?" Morrison: "... yeah, sure. Sounds good." You can tell the band was pretty loose and were having fun. No 10-minute Oedipal stuff here. It's interesting how this and the first Doors album are probably the ones I liked most. It's like bookends to the band, and shows their evolution. I think the only song I did not care for was "L'America" and "The Changeling," which sound a bit pretentious. Regardless, I liked the album a lot. Top songs: "LA Woman," "Riders On The Storm," "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)," "Love Her Madly"
I think their debut is better, but this one is still pretty good. A lot of jamming, a lot of understated blues going on. Jim Morrison manages to keep it together long enough to put out one more album, and channel all his crazy into a macho vocal performance. The singles are all big, solid tunes - Lover her Madly, LA Woman, Riders on the Storm - but I don't know if there's a song beyond them that really sticks out. Maybe The WASP. Still, it's an album that fits together well. Somewhere between a 3 and a 4. I'm feeling generous today.
Fantastic rock album. Love all the details in the back of the music. 5/5
A pretty decent album to listen to but not their best.
Jim Morrison sucks
BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME
I have a confession to make. I really don’t like The Doors. I don’t know what it is, but outside of a few songs, I sorta can’t stand them. Maybe it’s Jim Morrison’s voice or the fact that the hits on this album are 7-8 minutes that end up on the radio and linger for 40% of my car-riding experience. It’s weird, they just piss me off. My dad likes The Doors, but my mom doesn’t, so I guess I picked up my apathy for The Doors from her, along with Tom Petty. This album doesn’t change my perspective much. As mentioned, I don’t like either of the 7-minute songs (L.A. Woman or Riders on the Storm) and the deep cuts don’t do much to change my mind. There are a few things that stop this from being a 1-star, mainly because I’m not that insane, but I can’t say I found this enjoyable. If there are more Doors albums on this venture (and I’m 99% sure there will be, ugh), I hope at least one will be at least decent to me. But this is my trash opinion and I’ll stick with it. Favorite track I guess: Hyacinth House (it was nice and short, I actually kinda liked it.) Other hits: The Changeling, The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
Mr Mojo rising. Excellent
I spend a lot of time shitting on Jim Morrison, mainly because he seems like an alcoholic moron pretending to be an intellectual that no one would give a shit about if he didn't look good in leather pants. What I can say for this album is that it has several Doors songs that I really like. A lot of the other songs kinda drag on without much that I find interesting. This is much more of a blues album than I would have anticipated. The Doors have always been bluesy, but you can really hear the blues influence on the non-hit songs on this album 3/5 The songs that I like, I really like. However, the other songs are mostly dull, which makes the album drag on and feel uneven
One of my top 100- my favorite Doors album, hands down. This is the album that finally made me understand this band. It was not Jim Morrison and The Doors, it had always been The Doors with Jim. The musicality and song structure mixed with his spacey poetry are at their peak here. Sure, there’s other good records and other great, even better, songs but no other album is this cohesive. And for bonus points if you want to really get them- watch Oliver Stones The Doors. Great cast, incredible acting (Val Kilmer does all the vocals live and spot on) and an entertaining look at Jim. Also of note, the single greatest “Yeah” in all of rock and roll history occurs in the middle of the song LA Woman. Mmmmmmmmm…yeeaaaahhhhhhh
I have loved Doors the decades but never heard this album. Love it.
First listen. Decent.
The Doors were back in fashion when I was in high school, and Jim Morrison was the Kurt Cobain of the 80s - all the musical genius minus the angst and self-loathing. Maybe because this is the last album it is more boozy and bluesy, and there’s a little less of the early style and finesse of their unique sound. Still some good tracks, but they have better albums.
Solid rock by the Doors
My number one album of all time . . . . (probably)
It's well done, but I'd need to be in a very specific mood to enjoy
Another 5er. Such a good run of tracks. 5/5
Pretty cool. Love the blues, especially the uptempo ones where Jim Morrison had more grit in his voice (sounds awesome on Been Down So Long, def a fav from this album). Still don't really like his voice though, the grit just makes it more bearable. Certainly didn't expect a fake guitar solo from Jim either. The instrumentals, however, are always awesome- can't get groovier! LA Woman itself is an awesome song though, as is Riders On The Storm. Not sure what the hell to rate it overall though. A few songs I dig, but they don't quite make up for the rest of them (or the lecture on the history of Texas blues, wtf).
Loved the opening and final tracks, the rest was pretty groovy and bluesy but pretty boring.
Groovy
What a bluesy record by these fine English gentlemen. I'm familiar with The Doors, but wasn't familiar with this one. It's fun, funky, electric and entertaining. This is a band that really knew how to have fun with their music. The guitars and overall lofi sound add to the sometimes-melancholy mood, but the quirky guitar licks add some circus-like feel to it. I dig this.
Nice classic blues from The Doors. Only maybe 3-4 standouts throughout the whole thing. 5/10
Love whammy bar use of the bat song 1. The 2nd needs murph on the keys. Overall flow and vibes 10/10. I am head bopping for sure
I’m a sucker for anything blues based, but the version of Riders on the Storm with excessive band chatter at the beginning with no other noticeable changes was annoying
If it's rock with some blues in it, I will admit that I'm a pretty easy target. And half this album either gets consistent radio play on classic rock stations, or was a cover of a blues standard. So I was familiar with a lot of this. I tend to enjoy it, but as an "album listen," I was getting kind of bored toward the end.
the doors is w
Day234 - sounds like everything by the doors
Interesting album. I like it. Had a blues feel to it. Not all doors albums are like that though. I’m wishing it wasn’t a one off.
3.5
Heard the album before. A couple of great songs but overall The Doors don't hold up as well as some other classic rock bands. Soft 3
I will always remember listening to Riders on the Storm on Saturday mornings while we were finishing swimming practice - kicking back and forth while our coach regularly moved the needle back to the beginning so that it became a never-ending 30 minute song in my head.
I think there are both better blues albums and possibly better Doors albums, but this was an easy pleasurable listen full of familiar songs.
I did not appreciate that the youtube version was a 50'th anniversary deluxe 3.5 hr version with several outtakes of each song... great for a superfan, but not as an album listening experience. It can also feel a bit underwhelming listening to this because we've heard most of these so many times on the radio and other plays over the years, but this album full of good strong songs. Classics, slow and strong, with a backbeat that's hard to master.
Not sure if I had ever listened to this entire album before. Multiple classics, and loved the blues tunes as well.
I like Riders on the Storm, I kind of like Love Her Madly, Cars Hiss By My Window, L.A. Woman; I almost like The Wasp
Their best, near to a five.
Never really listened to the Doors, and I've now spent a lot of time with this record because I couldn't make up my mind about it. The R&B/blues-inflected rock is really solid - direct, energetic, unpretentious. Some of the songwriting is great, and gives a dark, psychedelic underbelly to the record. On the other hand, I don't dig the title track at all - which is a bit of a dampener because it's 7+ minutes. Jim Morrison is the main "hit and miss" component of the album: some of the tracks have a brooding seriousness in his performance; others have a gruff swagger; then a few sound like a weird, stodgy parody. You have to be on some drugs to think up "Mr Mojo Risin" as an anagram of your own name, then be convinced its interesting enough to be chanted for a large passage of an album. Overall though, it's an impressive album that has opened the doors of my perception on this band. 4*
Not a great fan of The Doors. Thought a lot of their music meandered a lot and drug fuelled. However they produced two really fantastic songs Riders Of The Storm (on this album) and Light My Fire on previous album which has one of the best organ arrangements ever. LA Woman is deserving of being on this list as The Doors and Jim Morrison in particular left an enduring mark on pop and rock music. Not a favourite of mine but is redeemed with the inclusion of Riders. 2/5 20/8/24
More effort needed
One of my favorite records ever. Fav drum fill on the changeling
I enjoyed this album okay. It didn't hit me the same way as when I was younger. Not something I will relisten to but there are a few songs I will listen to if they're on.
Very good obviously but prefer older weirder psychier doors
Started off strong then petered out
The Doors are the most overrated band of the 20th century. Prove me wrong
I like Jim Morrison's voice a lot, but the only two songs that really did anything for me are the last two.
Hearing Riders On the Storm for the first time while on a walk in pouring rain was a trip
So close to a full five star rating for me, just a tad long-winded and slow for my tastes. But I full appreciate it's greatest. Perhaps the best, or close to best Doors album. Something to listen to when on shrooms or weed and just lay back and vibe to.
My favourite Doors album - at least most of the time. You can hear Jim Morrison’s demise, but at the same time, the songs on here are just awesome. L.A. Woman is probably my favourite Doors song
Good but the Doors were burned out at this point. IMO
Good doors album but a bunch of dude
Along with several terrific tracks, there's some very creative and original bits, some junky filler, and what seems like Morrison trying to be a blues singer. So, a very mixed bag.
Classic doors, not a bad song on that album
𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩. The Doors are one of the bands that are a hit-or-miss. Although they've created among the most catchy ("Light My Fire") and ambitious ("The End") music pieces, many of their later albums don't reach their earlier glory, especially after Jim Morrison spiraled down to alcoholism. Dismissing the essential chart-hits ("Love Her Madly", "L.A. Woman" and "Riders On The Storm"), I find L.A. Woman to be quite hollow and lacking and I'd be dishonest to reward it a high score, despite my love for the Doors.
While I enjoy the downtempo vibes this has, it leans a little too much into the bluesy sound and ends up mostly blending together for me, I'm not much of a fan of blues. I would only come back to this album for a few songs that stick out.
as someone said they sound like they just stole a bunch of black people's music
5 stars
Reminded me why I dislike The Doors - THIS BORING AS HELL!!! I think the fact that The Doors are so widely lauded makes me dislike them more. Jim Morrison sounds like he's 45+ years old.
Badass, I have this CD in my car
average Doors, not the bangers
This is probably a 4.5 star album but because everything better than average gets lumped into 4, I’m going to have to give this 5 to differentiate it. Call it rating inflation. Also I really like The Doors and I’m assuming “The Best of the Doors” isn’t on this list so they should get the five stars somewhere. This has got a good number of classic songs and the album tracks are pretty good too. It’s funny only getting to know the individual albums at this later stage in my life, but there you go.
Always liked this one, completely biased 4 stars…
L.A. Woman's on this afternoon
Fine
Their best work, flawless
4+
A favourite album for many years. classics with great interaction of the instruments.
This album along with The Wall and various punk albums got me through the late 80s.
No lyrics
Bluesy and rock and roll for sure.
I lost all my listening notes! Booo But thought this was alright - a long album, not really what I'd usually listen to
I wish Morrison wasn't such a jerk. This is an excellent album that I really want to like, but his nonsense takes away a star for me.
Good stuff, some great moments here. Not reaching the heights of the Doors' best stuff though.
It’s funny. When I hear some of these songs in a rock mix, I don’t really like them. However, taking the time to putting the album on and listening through, it actually fits together really well. Im pretty shocked I'm giving them 4 stars but I am…
The growly Morrison works as well as the sexy shaman/mad poet frontman, and in fact might be more convincing. Surely he seems a lot older and jaded than his late twenties. This is a masterpiece of vibe and tone – rock as languor, besides being a most apt sonic rendering of how LA feels (or must have felt in the early '70s. Morisson is looser, rougher and freer here – maybe less artily pretentious (editors are right on that point) and the slight tending toward bloat (as on "The Changeling") is well seasoned with seediness. The fine and subtle playing redeems even the slightly ridiculous songs (e.g., the sizzling guitar filigrees and organ riffs on “Crawling King Snake”). The title cut is an all-time classic and “The WASP” is the most poetic (“stoned immaculate” was a line for the ages and “No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn” so, you know, profound). "Hyacinth House" feels like take-it-or-leave-it release, its majesty lightened by an undertone or slightly pyschedelic joy and contentment. "Cars Hiss by the WIndow" is pure Bukowskian glory, and though one's never much loved "Riders," it makes a great (and stately) closer. Manzarek has always seemed the epitome of the pretentous rock star (and just a putz besides) but he really is the key to the sound, adding depth and pomp and glitter, too. But the record works because the playing is so good, and perfectly supports the languid lyrics and bigger-than-life poetic/shamanic front man. Maybe a much hipper and artier Elvis is the right way to think of Morrison. One's enormously enjoyed listening now, decades since one's last hearing, that one no longer feel even the least embarrassed about over-liking them decades ago.
i have historically Never Rly Gotten The Doors. i get the mystique, i get the talent of the musicians that surrounded jim morrison, and i even get jim morrison a bit (tho more in theory then in practice), but not most of the actual songwriting. ig its lucky i rolled this one then cuz honestly i think i was always more likely to enjoy a Back To Basics approach considering i didnt totally vibe with the band trying to rapidly ascend Above The Basics on those first two revered albums. the most ive been "wait, its THAT song i hear at work all the time?" on an album since tom petty's greatest hits. all in all feels like really sturdy and tasteful white boy blues, which is not my favorite combination of things but no longer something i have an inherent wretching reaction to. i cant deny that the band absolutely kills it and in a less mystical setting the character of jim morrision appears just a bit more colorful...livening up a more "basic" kind of persona rather then failing to live up to lofty heights. other then deep purple i rly havent struggled much with any of these so far, idk if thats luck or just being stockholm syndromed into liking classic rock again lmao, ill take it tho
Das ist in jeder Hinsicht ein großartiges Album: sehr gute Produktion, hervorragende Nummern, ein unglaublich gut aufgelegter Jim Morrison mit hervorragenden Musikern. Purer grandioser Bluesrock mit einem psychedelischem Finale: Riders on the Strom. Es ist immer wieder eine große Freude, dieses Album zu hören.
Still not into them.
Loved in high school, now just OK
There were some songs that were really good. Like "riders on the storm", except for this fact I don't find the album particularly amusing.
Look, I properly love the doors. Having this album pop up basically prompted me to listen to three others by them right after. That's definitely worth 4 stars.
I wish the recording was better but the content is perfect.
What a way to go out, Jim.
Grew on me. Loved the conversations between the band. Different to what i thought the doors were about.
Kinda boring...? There are a few fantastic tracks here, but quite a few of them really do drag on. It doesn't help that Morrison's vocals can be sleep inducing sometimes too.
nice, easy listening
Despite featuring my 2 favorite Doors songs, this album as a whole really doesn’t hit like their debut album. Still excellent.
decent, rocky-country vibe going on, if im ever in the mood for that, id listen to it again (ill never be) YMN
The Changeling - Solid Opener Good walking track. Good baseline. Strong Pre Chorus and Chorus main riff. Good dual leads on closing riff with a memorable tone. Ok Drums Good Rhythm, good growly vocals. Love her madly - Very strong Intro, fun chord changes, groovy keyboard. Strong in and out guitar. OK Chorus. Thought provoking ish. Nice guitar solo pairs well with keys. Been down so long - Very strong vocal intro, catchy guitar and hook. Repetitive and simple yet effective bass Car hiss by the Window - Slow and mellow, good groove, slightly mid guitar solo L.A Woman -Strong Drum and bass intro, Good dance track, very long, controversial but I feel for the length of the song it doesn't really develop much. L'America - Unique Opening guitar riff, strong fade into bass, eerie tone with keys. I like how each instrument fades in and out. Very Experimental sounding. Huge shift in mood at 2:08, far more enjoyable, doesn't last long enough. Another shift at 2:55, slightly different to earlier. The song is almost disturbing at times. Whilst I respect the vision I did not enjoy the song whatsoever. Hyacinth House - Very good keys, Keys harmonising with vocals. Very good vocals and keys, overlapping vocals. Powerful almost. Crawling King Snake - Nothing particularly bad but nothing hugely of note. WASP - Keyboard MVP Riders on the storm - Definitely the best on the album, but still not hugely impressive. Final notes, Personally not a huge fan but I respect the album, For 1971 it was very different and probably influential. For the genre itself it's definitely a must pick, just not a fan of early prog rock
yes
more like the snores
the doors are all right, but not my favorite. psychedelic blues rock is for nostalgic dads, their teenage kids, and no one else. there are some ok songs on here but most of them are filler, and even the good ones overstay their welcome. fine but not for me. favorites: the changeling, love her madly, l.a. woman, riders on the storm
It's not the most exciting rock album I've ever listened to, but there are interesting ideas here and the musicianship is solid. Morrison had an inherent charisma that buoyed his less compelling lyrics and performances. Highlights: Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman, Hyacinth House
Liked the start of this album. Some really good blues and the bass playing is great. Kind of teeters off midway through. Still a good listen. 3.5/5 Might listen again
I am more a „Hotel Morrison“-guy.
Um álbum de blues com toques de psicodelia, e por isso é muito bom. Se fosse o blues puro, convencional, acho que seria um álbum nota 3 ou 4, dependendo das músicas, mas é nos momentos em que se foge do tradicional, que o álbum ganha identidade. A ordem das músicas foi muito inteligente iniciando e finalizando o álbum com as duas músicas mais experimentais (e, para mim as melhores do álbum) porque ao ouvir o álbum você grava lembra como um álbum do The Doors, e não como qualquer outro álbum de blues.
It's a pretty good blues album. L.A. Woman, Cars Hiss By My Window, The Changeling, and Riders on the Storm are good tracks. For me, this album gets a 3 because of the historical significance of the Doors, but not one I'd listen to again. 3/5
This is a solid 3. But then the singles start playing and your mind is blown. There is a reason all young people go through a Doors phase.
Been a minute since I got the chance to talk about The Doors. They were such a solid band, and I have had nothing but positive things to say about them since I first heard the debut. Unfortunately this is the last time I’ll be able to talk about one of their records. Odd that Strange Days didn’t make the list. Another unfortunate fact is that this is their last album. By last, I mean last with Jim Morrison. The world lost him exactly two months and two weeks after this released. I’m aware that they made music after this. But Let It Be also came out after Abbey Road, but anyone with half a brain refers to the latter as their last. Mostly because it was the last one properly recorded. It’s different with The Doors. But everyone, including the band members themselves knew Jim was the heart of this group. It’s why they only made it a little over a year without him. But when you look back, what they achieved is remarkable for just 4 years. And I think they went out with a bang. Any bit of what you might have loved about them from previous albums is still present here. And some bits even feel turned up a notch. The production is fantastic, and makes the rhythm sections hit harder than they ever have before. The WASP has probably my favorite bass line they ever wrote. And I’m just now realizing after looking it up that they never had a bassist. Just session musicians. They do a good job though. Jim’s voice combined with his lyrics is still poetry. And I’m going to bring it up again, as I have in both of my previous reviews. Ray Manzarek is a fucking monster on this album. He just elevates these songs, and adds a whole other level of groove. Never imagined I’d find a keyboardist I liked as much as Rick Wakeman, but here we are. I can’t envision songs like Riders on the Storm or Hyacinth House being as cool as they are without him. Speaking of that first song, it’s their best. Don’t care how popular it is or how overrated people want to say it is. It’s the best thing they ever made, and an excellent way to close out the final record. It finishes things just as well as The End did for The Beatles. It’s crushing that we will never get to know what kind of magic these fellows would have cooked up later into the 70s. But L.A. Woman is still excellent, and just as good as their debut. Rating: 8/10
Groovy
7.5/10
By the early 70s, the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle had taken its toll on Jim Morrison, leaving him looking and sound considerably older than his 28 years. His voice had deepened to a husky burr, which suited the blues stompers that the rest of the band gravitated to. This is probably the best of the Doors albums, with the highlights being Riders on the Storm and the spoken poetry of WASP. Jim passed away in Paris just over two months after the album was released.
It might be my favourite from the Doors: it has not the gimmicks of psychedelic rock of their beginnings (with too much organ), it's not bloated as their more orchestrated work (the Soft Parade), some songs are probably the most bluesy/stripped down tunes of their repertoire. And it ends with Riders on the Storm.
I am a little worn out on classic rock, even for a band as good as The Doors. “Riders on the Storm” is the real highlight here.
This review sums it up perfectly. You can classify Doors tunes into 3 categories; the hits, average blues tunes and drug addled drek.
SOLID classic rock album, definitely have been enjoying the albums of theirs on this list so far.
Love the sound of Jim Morrison's voice. Now immortalised forever. Culminating in Riders on the storm. Excellent album and deserves its acclaim.
Great
Always a band to split opinion, this is their swan song, with a bloated, out of control Jim Morrison at the helm. Excessive even by 60s standards it’s hard to imagine a band like this could exist in today’s anodyne culture. Personally I love the album. It’s been years since I listened to it and I found the songs have not aged badly. Raw, rootsy, bluesy, a simple production allowing the musical craftsmanship to shine. Of course Morrison steals the limelight but they really were a tight unit and their sum is bigger than their parts. Not a bad track on it.
The Doors are one of the best rock bands for a reason.
I generally prefer the sound on their first album to the blues on this one, but it’s still good, with some great songs, especially the two long ones, those being the title track and ‘Riders On The Storm’. That being said, there is a lot of forgettable material on the album and it is somewhat derivative, but I like it nonetheless.
A unique band that has their own stuff going on. Its poetry with great musical notes as background music. I love this album short and sweet as well as great lyrics. 2 super famous singles but might ne underrated as an album. Although it doesnt have my favorites songs of theirs here this is the best album they released in my opinion.
Show! Discaço
LA Woman is an all time listen, and Love Her Madly and Riders on the Storm are classic Doors, but aside from these high points, the rest of album is quite dull and samey
Alors, nous y voilà, on attaque du lourd, voir du très lourd. Un de ces albums qui, à force d'être partout, finit par faire partie du mobilier. Je parle évidemment de "L.A. Woman" des Doors. Le disque-testament, le chant du cygne, l'épitaphe bluesy du Roi Lézard avant qu'il n'aille moisir dans une baignoire parisienne. Et je le regarde, avec sa pochette couleur vinasse et sa photo de groupe où Morrison, barbu et déjà bien entamé par les excès, semble nous dire : "Allez, c'est la dernière, après j'arrête les conneries". On me demande un avis, un ressenti. Et mon ressenti, le voilà, brut de décoffrage : 3 sur 5. Sacrilège ! Hérésie ! Comment, puis-je oser profaner une telle relique ? C'est simple. Parce que j'ai 55 balais, et que ce disque, je l'ai entendu jusqu'à la nausée. Et avec le recul, débarrassé de toute la mythologie morbide qui l'entoure, que reste-t-il ? Un bon, voire très bon album de blues rock. Et c'est là que le bât blesse. "Juste" un bon album de blues rock. Remettons-nous dans le contexte de 1971. Le Flower Power est mort et enterré à Altamont. Les rêves psychédéliques des sixties se sont évaporés dans un nuage de mauvaises descentes. Le rock devient lourd, sérieux, progressif. Et que font les Doors ? Eux, les chamanes électriques, les incendiaires de l'âme, les porte-paroles d'une jeunesse qui voulait "le monde, et le voulait maintenant" ? Ils retournent à la niche. Ils font un disque de blues. Attention, je n'ai rien contre le blues. C'est la mère de tout. Mais pour un groupe de cette envergure, à ce moment précis de leur carrière, ce virage à 180 degrés sent moins la réinvention audacieuse que le refuge confortable. C'est le son d'un groupe à court d'idées, fatigué, qui se branche sur le pilote automatique du shuffle à douze mesures. C'est le son d'un Jim Morrison qui a troqué sa folie imprévisible contre un professionnalisme un peu pâteux d'alcoolique fonctionnel. Bien sûr, il y a des fulgurances. On ne peut pas décemment cracher sur tout. Le morceau-titre, "L.A. Woman", est un putain de road trip. C'est l'autoroute de nuit, les néons qui bavent, l'odeur de bitume et de danger. C'est un boogie hypnotique et poisseux qui fonctionne à merveille. Efficace, carré, presque trop. On sent le groupe de musiciens chevronnés qui sait exactement où il va. C'est redoutable, mais où est passée la faille, le dérapage, le moment où tout pouvait basculer dans le chaos ? Et puis, il y a "Riders on the Storm". Ah, "Riders on the Storm"... Le classique ultime. La bande-son parfaite pour un film noir de David Lynch, pour une nuit d'orage, pour une pub de parfum. C'est magnifique, atmosphérique, avec ce piano électrique fantomatique de Manzarek. C'est un morceau immense. Mais c'est un morceau d'ambiance. Il installe un climat, il ne met pas le feu. Il est devenu si iconique qu'il en a perdu toute sa substance subversive. C'est une belle pièce de musée, qu'on admire avec respect mais qui ne nous fait plus frissonner. Le reste de l'album ? Franchement, ça oscille entre le correct et l'anecdotique. "Love Her Madly" est une jolie chansonnette pop qui aurait pu être écrite par n'importe qui. "The Changeling" a un bon groove, mais ne décolle jamais vraiment. Les purs blues comme "Crawling King Snake" sont bien exécutés, mais des centaines de groupes faisaient ça à l'époque, et parfois avec plus de conviction et moins de dollars sur leur compte en banque. Alors, pourquoi ce disque est-il un classique ? Pour une raison simple et tragique : Jim Morrison est mort trois mois après. Voilà. C'est tout. "L.A. Woman" est devenu un monument parce que c'est le dernier. C'est le point final. L'oeuvre testamentaire. On l'écoute avec la connaissance de la fin, et cette connaissance teinte chaque note d'une gravité qu'elle n'aurait peut-être jamais eue sinon. Chaque parole de Morrison devient une prophétie, chaque accord une oraison funèbre. On ne juge plus le disque, on commémore le mythe. Et le mythe, c'est bien ce qui me fatigue. Le mythe du poète maudit qui s'est en réalité noyé dans son vomi et son whisky. Le mythe d'un album de blues rock compétent, élevé au rang de chef-d'oeuvre absolu par la grande faucheuse. Mon 3 sur 5 n'est pas un jugement méprisant. C'est une note honnête. C'est un album qui s'écoute sans déplaisir, qui a deux, voire trois, titres immortels qui justifient à eux seuls sa place dans le grand livre du rock. Mais pour le reste, ça sent un peu la fin de service. Le groupe a fait le job, a empoché le chèque, et le chanteur est parti prendre son dernier bain. C'est une belle histoire pour les magazines, mais pour mes oreilles de vieux con qui a entendu des milliers de disques, ça manque de cette étincelle de pure folie qui faisait des premiers Doors un groupe véritablement dangereux et essentiel. C'est un classique, oui. Mais un classique un peu trop confortable. Un classique de salon. Et moi, le rock, je l'ai toujours préféré quand il mettait le bordel dans la baraque.
Never listened to the doors much. Not too impressed by this album. I guess I often find blues boring, repetitive
This wasn’t bad, but it did over stay its welcome. Quite high on the jangle scale.
'L.A. Woman' was the first blues record I consciously listened to and the first Doors record. I hated it. I couldn't understand at all why my friends liked it so much. Blues isn't for me. This way of playing and expressing music makes me feel sick and rejected. I'm sorry, that's not just specific to the Doors, but I associate it specifically with this record. But in the end, the Doors didn't make this record for nothing in my opinion, there is the absolutely wonderful and outstanding 'Riders on the Storm', for that reason alone it deserves 5 stars.
Rad
I love this album and it barely makes it to a 5. There are some tracks that haven’t aged quite as well but most are really fantastic and overall I think this is probably the best The Doors album and one of the best of these ‘trippy’ rock records. I agree with the book blurb that this is the best, coolest version of Jim Morrison and actually of the band. And sonically this album also sounds great, recorded with great care and subtlety, and with outstanding performances.
Some tracks okay, like the vocals.Not a great blues fan
L,A, Woman is the sixth Doors album, and the last to be release while singer Jim Morrison was still alive. This collection of songs was done with simpler arrangements than their previous two albums - just guitar-driven blues songs with strong support from the keyboards and bass. The includes some of the bands biggest songs, including "LA Woman," "Riders on the Storm," and "Love Her Madly." These songs show Morrison's strength as a vocalist, and the potential of the band.
Honestly I found it a bit dull, repetitive and even irritating at times. Love her madly was good, riders is fine if a bit overrated, and everything else passed by without me caring whatsoever. Not one to revisit I reckon. 02/07/24
Lesser bands would have made these blues numbers almost painful but The Doors are talented enough to keep it interesting and Jim Morrison is a great frontman. Also this album has some monster sized classics so that is also a plus. Not my favorite Doors album but it's up there
A great album. I took the opportunity to listen to it again in its entirety. Not only LA Woman and Riders on the Storm are remarkable. The other tracks are also great. 5/5
Right off the bat, I dug the funk. L'America had me shaking my head and jamming along. Riders on the Storm felt endlessly groovy. This album was harder to swallow knowing that Jim Morrison died shortly after it was released.
Very fun! The music is amazing, very 70s but I get why it is the best of the best from those years.
Most of this album is a perfect soundtrack for a sunny summer day somewhere in California, coasting along the highway and stopping off at roadside bars and blues joints. Too bad I’m here in Wales during an unseasonable cold and rainy summer. It’s the first of July, why the fuck am I sitting in a jumper and a blanket?
Better-than-average Doors album.
This is a good album. It's fairly chill and consistent all the way through, never leaning too heavy. The best and most famous song is Riders On The Storm which appears last on the album. It's a hell of a close.
The last album by the original Doors lineup has isolated moments of decent rock padded by meandering blues and edgelord poetry. During these moments I amused myself by imagining how embarrassing Jim Morrison’s 80s musical output would have been.
Goated