1001 Albums Summary

Listen, I was going to Industrial goth clubs and dancing in cages with the best of them back in the mid-90’s. You’d think I’d be pretty familiar with this one but I’m not. I’ve heard this album hundreds of times, but since Bryan Warner has always freaked me out, it’s not one I’ve ever owned, nor one that I listen to by my own choice. This is the first time I’ve heard it front to back and really listened. There are a couple bops, I guess. But I recall people that I typically think of as having good taste just RAVING about Marilyn Manson. He was supposed to be a Trent Reznor protégée genius and it I dunno, it just feels like shock for the sake of shock, like Ozzy biting the head off a bat. Yeah, that was metal af, but that poor bat. The lyrics are sophomoric and I mostly wish I had skipped this album. I now know what this prick sounds like saying the word Pussy, which my brain has never allowed me to hear before. I may never have sex again. (Please let the next album be a babyface classic or something)

This album is full of typical bar rock. Southern band raised on the Stones, Humble Pie, and Otis Redding. Nice to listen to, sing along to, listen to while downing a few beers at your local watering hole, maybe gaining enough courage to go on stage and karaoke to one of these tunes. Mostly, this album could be indistinguishable from any other southern bar band album, although I do love Chris Robinson’s voice. The songs are familiar feeling in a way that made them feel like Insta-classics. Seeing Things is the bluesiest track. I love the song, but I don’t love Robinson singing it. The Otis Redding cover Hard to Handle fits his voice well and I recall it being a big hit. Thick n Thin is a swinging bop. She Talks to Angels has a special place in my heart forever, and this album gets a whole star just for that song alone. I’ve both been that girl and I know that girl. Overall, solid album.

I love this album so much. I had this vinyl for so long and it broke in my move from UT to CA and broke my heart. Tears of Rage and The Weight are two of my favorite comfort songs. I can’t say anything about this album except to say it is sacred and lovely and you should listen to it often.

So good. The Blues are my happy place. As good and as relevant today as it was in 1977.

I am not nearly high enough to enjoy all of the sounds in this album. Too many distracting noises that my ND brain cannot process. Reverb and more reverb. Star belongs on a different album, where the hell did that even come from? Might enjoy if under the influence of shrooms or peyote or acid or might not. Yeah, prolly not. Got lost in Stuka and Trainspotting while someone else was driving, sorta frightening. Note to self: do not listen to this album while driving. I just couldn’t with Long Life. Unlikely to listen again, unless I find myself tripping balls.