Overall: would not have listened to unprompted, outstandingly positive surprise.
-large open (but not empty) room sound, clean but lively
-"Flyin' High" is seamless "progressive" section
-broad, but consistent instrumentation (especially bass+congas(?)+chime accents)
-song transitions really smooth, sells the "concept album thing" of all songs being different sections of one big piece well
-"God is Love" reprise of beginning "What's Going On"
-"Mercy Mercy Me" neat Saxophone Solo (stand-out timbre)
-"Mercy Mercy Me" favourite until now, but cleanest cut yet after it
-did not expect the "Bossa"
-"Inner City Blues" really groovy and reprise again
Sounds just like 1965 (in a good way).
Good variety, not really coherent, but consistent.
Don't like his voice at times, but didn't dislike the overall listening experience.
Favourite Tracks: "No Dancing", "Blame It On Cain" and especially "I'm Not Angry"
Notes:
- Welcome To The Working Week" could have gone on longer
- overall sound until now more like 60s (early beates etc.) than 1977
- "No Dancing" best so far, mor variety, not the biggest fan of his voice on the earlier two
- nvm, I like "Blame It On Cain" better, so far it gets better with every Song (familiarity bias?)
- "Alison" guitar leads feel a little like John Mayer (bit early though, also he said the thing)
- "I'm not Angry" captivating from beginning, more distorted riffs+lead and interresting arrangement
- "Waiting For The End Of The World" great drum sound
- "Watching The Detectives" kind of different sound as the rest (Reggae-ish and different singing) and seems kind of odd as a closer, but also kinda gets stuck
Harder to rate because of the language barrier.
A bit reminiscent of some late 60s/early 70s stuff, but more "conventionally" structured and more "ethnic" instrumentation.
Favourite Songs: "Xica Da Silva", "Africa Brasil (Zumbi)"
Notes:
- "Ponta De Lanca Africano" groovy spy-esque Bass Riff
- "O Filosofo" interresting "wonky" soundscape with "beach feel" (somehow vibes like "Sympathy for the Devil")
- phaser/flanger usually on clean guitar
- "Xica Da Silva" somehow stands out a bit
- "Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado" also a bit standout energy
- "Africa Brasil (Zumbi)" little harsher vocals/bass, "bass synth lead" and flute accents join instrumentation
Not feeling this one all that much, but some parts would make for a great retro-esque game soundtrack.
It dragged a bit sometimes, but there also was noticeable creativity.
Near their end, most songs changed, which was always a welcome surprise.
Also, it's always nice to hear the songs beeing connected somehow.
Notes:
- "Genesis" hit me unexpectedly with "horns and timpani"
- "Let there be light" first half dragged, second got more interresting (last different part positive surprise)
- didn't care about "D.A.N.C.E." until last part, where it, again, sounded different at once
- "Newjack" has change in the middle with "lv-up" sound
- songs are generally connected somehow
- "DVNO" funky bass ending
Seems perfect for just vibin.
Little gripe is that the songs are very long (generally a good thing) and sometimes feel like they don't really go to something. Also missing maybe a bit of variety.
Notes:
- There's Bari Sax and tons of Reverb/Delay
- Singing feels a bit "Bob Dylan"-esque
- "Under The Preasure" really opens up to the end
- "Suffering" starts of a bit more clear/minimalistic
- "An Ocean Between The Waves" also start a little clearer and has good buildup
- "Disappearing" surprise harmonica, when it widens up and great e-piano sound
- "Eyes to the Wind" interresting opening
- "The Hunting Idle" to "Burning" sealess transition and buildup continues
- "In Reverse" Ending rounds up the album pretty well
Already time for an Album I know and have listened to multiple times.
Generally very fast-paced, high-energy an "in the face" an just flies by.
Variety is given and songs gereally have at least one section, where they change or end before they get stale. Maybe a bit much "whoa-o-o" chanting.
- "Time to Relax" Gold. (especially with the high-energy "Nitro" directly after it)
- "Bad Habit" doomey start, heavy riff and vocal-only section follow
- "Genocide" best riff so far
- "Something to Believe in" rhythmically complex intro
- "Come out and play" is that lead phrygian dominant?
- "Self Esteem" The slightly forced-sounding singing on this album just fits the best here
- "It'll be a long time" Tempo change in the middle
- Hidden track in phrygian dominant?
Yes, it's definitely a country record. A good one at that.
The longer it plays, the more 80s it gets.
Notes:
- "Guitar Town" a Country Song.
- "Goodbye's All We've Got Left To Say" Nice chorus melody and more variety (structure+instruments)
- "Good Ol' Boy" Did I just hear "pickup truck"?
- "My Old Friend The Blues" more folky (+ "tropical delay+slide") ...and the 80s show in later half
- "Someday" an ending guitar solo
- "Fearless Heart" great "12 string sounding" guitar interlude
Favourite Songs: "Slowdown-Sundown", "Night Train"
It feels like a certain something is missing for me on most songs and it's probably a lack of distinction between verse/chorus or, in general, different parts of the song, despite ideas being explored.
Notes:
- "While You See A Chance" synth lead sounds just like "Valerie"
- "Arc Of A Diver" funky
- "Slowdown-Sundown" less energetic + mandolin + organ, change in the middle
- "Night Train" Hooks me more
Very pleasant and down to earth. Great contender for "soundtrack material".
Some songs very short or not that distinct.
Notes:
- "Time of The Preacher" Nice Buildup ...and "Buildback"
- "Blue Eyes Cryin In The Rain" Tasteful Instrumental section and vocal harmonies afterwards
- Seamless "Time of the Preacher Short" to "Just As I Am"
- "Can I Sleep In Your Arms" sticks out and seems a bit more varied
It gets good from "My Generation" and onward. So the second half carries it.
Bass, Vocals and especially Drums go hard, Guitars sometimes sound a little strangled, knowing what's to come.
Songs have a general feeling of them beating the crap out of their instruments, but it's still a bit early for such a thing and it sounds a bit rough (bothers me only in the first half).
Notes:
- "Out in the Street" hard drums and guitar killswitch and tremolo action
- "I don't Mind" more bluesy
- "La la la lies" I kind of get now what they mean by "all their instruments are lead" ...those drums
- "Much too much" predecessor to "I can see for miles"?
- "My Generation" It just works ...and finally some bass
- "The Kids Are Alright" first half was kinda "alright", but now we're talkin'!
- "Please please please" more blues, but in a more "Zeppelin" way
- "It's not true" nice energy and nice guitar sound here
- "I'm A Man" is this a cover of some well-known blues song? (Bo Didley as it seems)
- "A legal matter" another great guitar sound
- "The Ox" Very climactic beginning and unexpectedly pretty heavy (especially the somewhat low guitar). Sounds like it could be the beginning of some later prog-rock album
A whole lot of variety, especially in the vocals (that are sometimes more of an acquired taste)
Favourite Songs:
From Out Of Nowhere, Underwater Love, Woodpecker From Mars
Notes:
- "From Out Of Knowwhere" Cool Riff and Bassline
- "Epic" Did Not expect Rap after first song. Sounds like 2000s (New Metal + Pop Rock), interresting Solo + Piano Outro
- "Falling To Pieces" Vibratoey Bass go brr
- "Surprise You're Dead" some thrash
- "Zombie Eaters" starts more solemn with Epitaph-Like acoustic riff, changes to heavy bass riff
- "The Real Thing" Unsettling Rhythm, starts a little constricted and opens up, lyrics repeat hauntingly
- "Underwater Love" Slap, Guitar Trills, Banger
- "Woodpecker From Mars" Phrygian dominant? Instrumental with really interesting arrangement
- "War Pigs" starts more doomey than original
- "Edge of the World" smooth swing? ...and it actually stayed this way and sounded good
