rabbithole Reviews
keigh
Last week I did a listen of Music From the Big Pink. Although it wasn’t a bad album, to me it sounded like they were still Dylan’s backup band and hadn’t quite found their sound yet. I think they’ve arrived with their second album. The songs sound less forced and more original. There are no covers on this, with all the songs written or cowritten by Robertson. The lead vocals are mostly evenly divided between Helm, Danko, and Manuel. I enjoyed the guest Tuba on “Rag Mama Rag.” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up on Cripple Creek” are classics. Rest of the album was good too. I loved the mandolin on “Unfaithful Servant.”
4
ayron
It's good stuff, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. The classics are certainly good (The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up On Cripple Creek").
3
mehtbone
I never liked the Band. Still don't. So I can't give this album 5 stars. But I appreciate the artwork and musicianship here. Wide range of instruments and sounds, decent two or three part harmonies. Some real solid songwriting. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up on Cripple Creek are deserved popular songs. Whispering Pines, Rockin Chair, and King Servant were nice songs I didn't know about. Rag Mama Rag reminded me why I don't like the Band.
4
jerweiss
I have heard "Music From The Big Pink" and "The Last Waltz" a few times, so I am pretty familiar with the Band.
The vocals always grated on me a bit. I'm not sure which singer it is, but he always sounds overly whiny. I know I should let that go. I mean, if I like Neil Young and Ian Anderson's vocals, this guy should be up my alley. But there's no forcefulness there.
Then there's some of the songs... "Jemima Dancer" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" are definitely problematic (God, I hate that word.) songs today. At least "The Night" is a better song. "JD" is not that good to begin with.
It's a good first effort by the group, but they definitely went up from here in their later efforts. They are NOT a group I have to get every 50th anniversary super deluxe edition set for, but a good comprehensive set would be good for me. I'd give this a good 3.7, minus "Jemima Dancer" (wow, what were they thinking?"
4