As music, rap has never moved me. Adding a jazz bass line doesn’t make it much more palatable for me. The social commentary is sometimes quite powerful, some of the pieces are humorous. But it’s more speech performance to my ears than music. Sorry…
Well… after three pieces, I’ve decided this is NOT an album I have to listen too before I die.
I find the slower pieces more to my liking, the imprisoned more easily appreciated. I recognize the exceptional quality of the arrangements and of his guitar playing
As an album, I find this uneven. The contrast between « Papa was a rollin’ stone » and « Love woke me up » is so jarring that the second sounds manic. I had never listened to this extended version of PWARS, and it impressed me. Funk: little melody, no harmonic progression, just rhythm and riffs… it really does become hypnotic.
The title track is wonderful, it deserves its reputation. And the harmonic changes if the second keep the interest up. As an album, I find that the following pieces don’t sustain the level of the first two.
I really enjoyed discovering this album. Of course, I knew « I Shot the Sheriff », but that was the only song on the album that I had heard before. Many of them are simply beautiful. I couldn’t understand the juxtaposition of the manic « Motherless Child » and the prayerful « Give me strength » until I read about this being Clapton’s first studio album in three years that were wasted on a serious drug habit. It’s as if he is contrasting the craziness of those years with a rediscovered love of music and a desire to live a more productive, peace-filled life. All in all, an album I would listen to many times.
I’m ambivalent. I love Celtic music, and I enjoy these orchestrations. The ongoingness of McGowan’s aggressive vocal style is tiring, but oh! So effective on Dirty Old Town and The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. This latter peace moved me deeply, it really is a masterpiece.
Relaxing, intricate, entertaining, (too) smooth… my mind would wonder, and I’d have to work to bring it back to the music. A great album while cooking up a meal
Meh. Not my kind of music, though some of the tracks are good to keep moving when I do my power walks. Really liked « Praise You »!
À discovery for me, and a very pleasant one at that! A style of music that I relate to easily, done with freshness and style. Surprised I had not heard of them before. Perhaps they weren’t big in Canada…
It grows on you…
I haven’t heard this in a long time. What a great album! Lyrics, music, arrangements, performance: all top quality. A true classic!
What a surprise! I thought Nelson was only a country singer. He gives these classics a stellar performance, smooth and personal at the same time. Worth a repeat!
Well, I’m surprised. Heavy-metal will never be my thing, but listening to this album has made me appreciate the genre in a way I never did before. I am impressed by the lyrics, the rhythmic intricacy, the bass playing and guitar riffs. I was especially impressed by ”Through the Never”. A bit goes a long way, and I probably didn’t listen to it at the volume that fans do, but I’m really glad I’ve discovered the quality of this style of music. That alone is worth embarking on this project.
(68 years old, trained as a classical songer) I had heard Radiohead was special. After listening to this, I realize it’s true. The creativity is astounding, harmonic and rhythmic energy and surprises abound. The lyrics are brief, but oh so expressive. The musicianship is remarkable. I’ll have to listen to this a few more times to really get my head around it. Thanks for the chance of discovering such great music makers.
Another “revelation” for me. What a voice! The simplicity of the accompaniment invites careful attention to nuance and fosters a refreshing intimacy. This album calls for many rehearings!
I’m not sure this has aged well. I enjoyed it much more when it came out than I do now. I can’t quite put my finger on it, though. I’ll have to give this more thought.
Fascinating to hear the « other » songs on this album. I didn’t realize they played such great blues. A great discovery.
What a great album! Song after song picks you up, building up from a simple cell, adding layer on layer of sound and rhythmic intensity. Adding this to my own list of favourites!
Not impressed. The four-bar or eight-bar cells repeated over and ever might seek to create a trance-like feeling, but I simply found it boring. Sorry!
I occasionally listen to CBC radio’s « The Signal » when I’m forced to drive late at night. I’ve always found the music intriguing, often beautiful, and would wonder what genre it belong’s to. Well, discovering Sigur Rós and reading about the band has led me into the world of post-rock, and I find myself fascinated. This is creative, unexpected, enchanting and challenging. I will be listening to more of their work ab=nd to others of their ilk.
As music, rap has never moved me. Adding a jazz bass line doesn’t make it much more palatable for me. The social commentary is sometimes quite powerful, some of the pieces are humorous. But it’s more speech performance to my ears than music. Sorry…
I’m not a bid fan of C & W, and this album doesn’t help change my mind. I find the lyrics trite and the music uninspiring. And Dolly’s voice grates on my nerves. Sorry.
Brit pop passed me by, so this was a discovery… a pleasant one. Enjoyable, a bit manic but worth a second hearing.
A remarkable album indeed. Lyrics and music combine to make powerful statements about life’s meanings. Need to listen again.
I loved this album when it came out: the tunes, the voice, the instrumentation, the layering of rhythm and counterpoint, the energy… listening to it brings it all back!
I’m not into rap but decided to invest in this album. It was worth it. I’m starting to appreciate the esthetic and virtuosity of the performers. I find myself getting into the groove and surprised by the creativity. I’ll have to listen to this again!
I was looking forward to this, but feel ambiguous now. I find it uneven. It’s like the band has found this treasure chest of sounds and chords and words, but can’t stick to any one element long enough to really explore and taste it. The better pieces seem to do that. Mahler used to through bits and pieces of unconnected stuff together, but managed to build a whole out of it. This album doesn’t achieve that often enough for me.
A wonderful discovery for me. Great arrangements, a lot of energy. Well worth another listen
Sorry, this stuff just doesn’t work for me.
A discovery for me. Some songs I find hold well together, others are just over the top. When does too much become excess? All in all, an uneven album.
Lyrics that echo the meaninglessness of life set to fun, energetic, tuneful music… and the mournful « long gone »… An interesting album I’ll have to listen to again
I can’t believe I never heard of the Smiths before undertaking this project. Remarkable music, both for its inventiveness, sensitivity and power. Will be listening often!
I really enjoyed listening to this after so many years. Like visiting with an old friend. A classic, without a doubt!
The other day, as I worked in my garden, I heard someone down the block practising such rhythms on a djembé. It was hypnotic and virtuosic at the same time, like this album. Glad I discovered such a witness to the roots of much music today!
Has electronica aged so poorly? What was considered fresh and novel when it came out seems stale today. A few songs from the album still manage to excite, but overall it doesn’t move me.
Another first for me. What a great album, energetic and creative, full of interesting passages and effects. Listened to it three times!
A classic, without a doubt. Such simplicity and feeling blend together to give life to these folk tales. However, not a recording I would return to often…
« Danceable heavy trance »… an interesting description that accurately portrays what this group is up to. Some pieces are bit monotonous, others are more venturesome and experimental. All in all, another fascinating discovery (to my great surprise!)
An uneven album, in my humble opinion, containing some jewels!
Well… after three pieces, I’ve decided this is NOT an album I have to listen too before I die.
What a great discovery. I’ll be coming back to this one regularly!
OK, nothing fantastic, but OK.
Didn’t know this band at all, and I’m impressed! Rich orchestration, interesting arrangements, nice variety. All in all, a really great album. Adding this to my list of favourites from project!
What a wonderful album. The sound of Dylan’s voice and his texts speak powerfully. The band is remarkable. Will be listening to this one often!
OK, here’s another genre of rock music I didn’t know: space rock. A few chords over a repetitive bass, aggressive drumming, background electronic “space” sounds… hypnotizing in its way, but I get the feeling it sounds better when high… not for me, sorry.
Now I know why the title track of this album is considered a classic. Really superb guitar improvisation, remarkable for its creativity and technical proficiency. It’s the high point of the album, the rest seems rather run of the mill to me…
What a fascinating album. Creative, original… sometimes, it sounds like what the Beatles would have been up to has they continued. Definitely worth another listen.
A great rock and roll album I had never heard before. Love the voice, the twin guitars, the lyrics, the variation between hard driving songs and ballads… I will definitely be listen to this again!
I had never listened to a LZ album before. I’m impressed by the polyphonic nature of their music: voice, bass, guitar and drums each playing independently but coherently together. Something classical too in their tempo and volume changes, their exploration of orchestration, their variety of style. Despite myself, I’m impressed!
Kinda like elevator music. I was intrigued at first, but then simply found it insipid.
True, this is a classic. But not one I’d listen to often. Query; Is Dylan a proto-rapper?
I can appreciate the historical and musical significance of this album for fans of rap, but I am not one of them, unfortunately…
Interesting to hear again, but my, how it sounds dated. Classics retain their relevance. This doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Interesting, but leaves me cold.
Excellent, exciting music. Must listen again.
Truly a classic. Just doesn’t get old.
Interesting exemple of Brit synth-pop, but nothing outstanding, in my mind.
Rap social et alternatif, très intéressant, sampling créatifs, textes et voix remarquables.
Souvenirs d’adolescence, à écouter pour l’intérêt historique, surtout pour Neil Young.
Musique surtout électronique, lente, un peu monotone. Me rappelle la télé italienne dans la nuit au collège canadien.
Rock créatif des débuts des 1970, presque iconoclaste. L’histoire humaine derrière les textes est émouvante. Me fait penser à Patrick Watson par sa créativité.
Un grand classique. Une musique qui allie traditions africaines et cajuns, avec des textes intelligents et une instrumentation toujours originale.
Un genre de Berthold Brecht de la fin du 20e s. Créatif, original, intéressant!
Meh!
Cet album est à réécouter. Un classique du rock.
Un autre classique. Album live, improvisations remarquables. À réécouter.
Je me surprends, je commence à aimer le rap… du moins, ce genre-ci. Rythmes dansants, échantillons intéressants, rythmé sans être agressif. À écouter de nouveau.
Du funk engagé, quelques pièces captivantes, mais sans plus.
Un album jouissif, exagéré mais entraînant. Un vrai plaisir de ré-entendre certaines pièces, surtout Mr. Blue Sky.
Le côté « danse » de ce style de rap me plaît et m’invite à l’écouter à nouveau, surtout qu’il est reconnu comme un classique du genre.
Un album qui rapporte beaucoup de beaux et doux souvenirs
Après avoir écouté l’album live fait au Japon, celui-ci semble épuré, plus fini. Du rock dans son état pur.
Album remarquable. Ce jazz doux, harmonieux et suave m’enchante.
Je commence à aimer LZ! De fait, cet album vaut une nouvelle audition. La variété des pièces plaît beaucoup, et la maîtrise du genre impressionne.
Quel chansonnier intéressant! Riches textes doux-amers qui contemplent la vie, l’amour et la société humaines accompagnés simplement, presque de façon amateurs. Fascinant!
OK, Punk. Pas mon style, que veux-tu…
Musique rock et folk Alabama intéressante. La prise des voix, distante, et la distortion des instruments est un goût à acquérir. Quelques chansons done envoûtantes.