They are really trying very hard to be groovy, but unlike DeeLite where "Groove is in the heart ", for this album, Groove is in the Past. The album doesn't hold up against the test of time.
Listenable. The jazzy rapping and chords and trippy drumming have endured the test of time.
First time I've heard this album, although I'm sure I heard their music on a mix-tape a friend made me back in the day. The album evokes memories of driving with the top-down on sunny spring days: reckless, feeling ten foot tall, bulletproof, and with great hair.
Debaser:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un_Chien_Andalou#:~:text=The%20title%20of%20the%20film,written%20in%20a%20few%20days.
The lyric refers to a movie, about slicing eyeballs - a short film from 1929 by Salvador Dali and Luis Brùnel
"I am un chien andalusian "
Monkey gone to heaven :
More Enlightening lyrics!
Decided to stop thinking about the lyrics, grab a plastic cup of beer and head down to the mosh pit.
Overall, an album to help explore and understand western music culture and post-Beatles rock in the 1970s. You do need to "commit to the bit" with this album - take time out to listen to it with an open mind. I have done so, many times over many years. Here's my review. No alcohol was consumed during or prior to these musings.
Black Dog:
Whisky music. You can't dance to it. Can't sing to it. Can't eat to it. You can drink to it. Ice will make a lovely clinking sound you'll be able to just make out over the screaming and the constant whine of tinnitus.
Rock n Roll
Should come with a warning - "Do Not Attempt To Drive under the influence of Rock n Roll". Just shred your license, and / or set an airbag off in your face. I defy anyone to drive sanely whilst this is playing. Coroner's reports from 1974-1981 showed 8% increase in car accident deaths in skinny white males without a partner. This song is the reason motorcycles don't have sound systems, or ashtrays.
Battle of Evermore
Little known fact - this song was the reason the skip button was invented. Honour the inventors now and use it for its intended purpose.
Stairway to Heaven
I like Buckets The Drummer's version:
https://youtu.be/wYVVG0DlRSI?si=nXeqxy4mICUJwaQe
Maybe you're on the second whisky now?
Good build in the song.
This is a very musical album from an interesting period of rock and western modern history. A relevant time capsule showcasing influences on modern music. Bring back the bridge!
Misty Mountain Hop
Get another glass. Tomorrow morning will hurt, mortals. Pretend you know the words, scream along.
Four Sticks
Sounds like Jimmy lost his song sheet and stubbed his toe.
Going to California
Sweet banjo and guitar work. Really listenable. Pleasant funeral outro music for someone raised Davidian in Waco, or for Charles Manon.
When the Levee Breaks
A good song. Sounds like it was fun to record. Harmonica, bluesy guitar and a steady driving drum beat, bright cymbals.
Nice guitar flourish at the end. Would have been a great signal to the listener when this was released originally on vinyl.
Harmonious grooves, rhythmic progressive bass chords, organ, flute, trumpets, saxophone - it's so musically rich and diverse. Even the percussion instruments are layered - it's an orchestra not a 4/5 piece band. Bob Marley is a genius.
Everything's gonna be alright.
Groovy. With over 50 years of distance between this album and today, maybe I'm over simplifying by classifying this as
a bare-faced knock off of The Beatles, Sergeant Pepper's album from 1 year earlier. I also hear influences of Cream; a band who were ahead of their time.
Pleasant listening, but overall a derivative work.
I was ready to get quickly fatigued by this LP, but it's a great album. A true classic.
Not my COT, but I've probably enjoyed this mixed/ sampled into lounge/ chill / EDM
Like the songs popularised by Ironman and Buckets The Drummer. Otherwise, not very listenable
A classic Beck album. Not my favourite, but a good album showcasing Beck's skill as a musician
Couple of great tracks, but the rest left me cold
Jenny was a friend of mine
and I've been doing *just fine*
Powerful album
