1001 Albums Summary

At the very beginning, “A Love Supreme”, feels like a train wreck. In its first track “acknowledgement”, sounds of cymbals, horns, upright bass, and of course Coltranes’ signature sax hit your eardrums from all sides. Wreckage is being strewn violently all around you and you’re just holding on for dear life, hoping to come out the other side unscathed. But In the thick of it all, comes light and salvation. Coltrane, like a true master at work, helps to guide and show you that it isn’t a wreck at all, but instead is actually an intricate, precisely-timed ballet of beautiful sound, creativity, and primal expression. By the time the third track, “Pursuance”, comes on you may think you have it all figured out. But the second Elvin Jones’ sticks hit the drum kit, you immediately know you’ve entered uncharted waters, a space that has and never will again be touched or tread upon. Arguably the best track, “Pursuance” holds you, shakes you, throws you around, and then leaves you hoping, praying, and pleading for just another second, truly pushing its limits to the breaking point, and then cruelly leaving you wanting more. And then, just as quickly as it had come, like a wave washing over you, it’s over. And in it’s place, gently leading you back to shore to all you know and love, is “Psalm”, the final track of the album. It feels less like a conclusion or finale, and more like the loving caress of a mothers touch on the back your neck. Showing you all the beauty and simplicity of the world around you. Reassuring, kind, soft, it brings you back to reality with the soft cooing of Coltrane sax. Almost like a poet, he helps to guide you through this tale, and help you to see and understand what you were just a witness too. But there are no words, no sweeping speeches, no long winded verses or hooks. Just pure sound. And by the end of the final note, we’ll, it’s like finishing that last page of a good book. You’re sad to see it end, wishful in thinking that there could be more, but feel all the better, stronger, and more alive for having sought it to its end. Like your first breath of air as a new-born baby, you never knew you needed it, but once you’ve tasted it, filled your lungs with it, you can never go back to what was before. It personally brought me back to childhood memories, when I would spend long summer days at my grandparents house and would give me the most wonderful flashbacks of car rides with my grandfather. No matter where we went, he would always have jazz on in the car. You wouldn’t notice it if you were paying attention, but under his breath, you could hear the unmistakable sound of him humming snd scatting along. It lives on only in my memories now, but if it weren’t for him I don’t know if I’d have the same appreciation and love for jazz that I do today. Love you and miss you grandpa, keep looking out for us and we’ll never forget you. 4.5/5⭐️- probably one of my new favorite jazz albums and an instant classic to go on the shelves; Realistically, not for everyone tho. If you aren’t someone who already likes/appreciates jazz, it might be a tough listen. Just being honest.

I’ll start by saying, I actually couldn’t gauge how I felt about this album when I started the first track. Don’t get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY love David Bowie’s music. It’s fun, energetic, raw, and most importantly it’s extremely catchy. On any other day, I would’ve been ecstatic to have this one come up. But just the night before, my next door neighbor kept my wife and I up most of the night by blasting loud, bass-heavy music that, and I quote “those darn kids love so much now a days! Dagnabit!!!” I know, I know, I sound a million years old! My apologies, old man rant over. So this morning when I turned on the album, suffice it to say I wasn’t sure if this album was gonna be my vibe. But I was wrong DEAD. WRONG. It was EXACTLY what I needed. When the first opening keys of “Changes” came on, I was instantly taken back to my days as a teenager; no bills, no rent, no responsibilities, just life at its most care-free. When your biggest worries we’re a test the next day, or what you and your friends were going to do over the weekend. Such a fun yet deep song about how life is an ever-evolving creature that feeds off what may come to be and the promise of tomorrow. But more importantly, how futile it is to fixate and focus on what may have come before, instead of embracing the possibilities, chances, opportunities that could be waiting just ahead. From there, it takes the listener on a wild journey with a multitude of different sounds, styles, and influences. From the loud highs of “Oh! You Pretty Things!”, “Life on Mars?”, “Andy Warhol”, and “Queen Bitch”; To the soft lows of “Eight Line Poem”, “Quicksand”, “Song for Bob Dylan”, and of course “The Bewlay Brothers”, this album was such a fun listen. So much so that I immediately had to listen to it again to let it all sink in further. Anyway, todays’ lesson kids: never doubt the healing power of Bowie 4.75/5⭐️- an album and it’s message that any generation can relate with;

Great album

Great album; perfect to turn on and get lost in, Rest In Peace Mr.Cash -5/5 ⭐️