George Harrison being the Beatle with one of the more successful solo career after they broke up is the plot twist and reckoning the world deserved. He is so talented and I think this album showcases how important George was to the Beatles. All Things Must Pass has that distinct 60s Beatles sound. Disc 1 is a banger; I’d Have You Anytime is a fantastic opening song and it leads to some unforgettable songs (My Sweet Lord, Let It Down, What is Life among my current favorites). On Disc 2, I thought that the transition from It’s Johnny’s birthday to Plug Me In was perfect. That song (Johnny’s Birthday) in particular resonated with me just because it’s such an innocent celebration made to be so unsettling by the key. I think you can see George’s history in this album. There is a lot of speak of God, of course, and obviously all of them have with studying meditation and Eastern religious practices. You can see that influence in the album, given George practiced Hare Krishna for the rest of his life. Enough of the positives though - I also think that the album is a little monotonic. I felt that some of the songs can really blend together. But there are some standouts, I don’t want to be a hater. I think because of how long the album is, it lost me a bit. I also prefer an album with a more coherent storyline/concept.
Oh dude….. this is a pretty incredible album. It is certainly an album to which you want to read the lyrics and learn the context. Cohen lived a fascinating life, and to learn that this album about the very inevitability of our mortality was produced and released only a few months before he passed is CHILLING. He wrote his funeral album. The String Reprise / Treaty is so laced with emotion I was going to cry listening to it close out the album. PROFOUND. The lyrics are a must read (obviously just an extension of his poetry which I now want to read) and his baritone is extremely impressive. Oof. Chills.
Take the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and add a bamboozling suite of American overproduction to add that disco and country twang to create ELO's Out of the Blue. This album has that unmistakable 70s sound. Orchestral overkill, and I say that relatively positively as I do actually enjoy this kind of sound. I think that this is a good album with a few stand outs (obviously Mr. Blue Sky is great, and we all know the song, but after listening to the whole album I think that Sweet Talkin Woman is the better single).
It was difficult to rate this album. Elvis has such a unique voice, by way of some combo of natural talent and intentional technique. But context is important - he was a hit because he could do something other white artists couldn’t do as well. Record labels wanted to bring African American music into the mainstream and wanted to find someone palatable to do that. Important to remember none of the songs on this album are actually his, they all have different composers and lyricists. The original Tutti Frutti blows this one out of the water. Also, some of these songs don’t age well. I don’t appreciate the “my woman knows she belongs in the home” and that whole sentiment in I Got a Woman. All that aside, I can recognize Elvis and his rendition of the music was the start of a cultural shift. It is such great music. (I also listened to ELO’s Out of the Blue today (English** not American overproduction oops) and think I enjoyed this listen more which is why I am inclined to give it a higher rating.) This sound is important and is the blueprint for many rock riffs to come. But maybe let’s re-evaluate calling someone the King when there are so many artists in the shadows who are just as impactful (and honestly even more so) when it comes to the blossoming of rock and roll.
Why do you do this to me? Awful person. But damn this album was fun to listen to. It exudes energy and showmanship, the music is incredible and something I would have loved to experience live. I want to be at a concert like this. But can’t ignore I have the same problem with this guy as I do with Elvis. Is this original? Nope. And bonus, did this guy marry a 13 year who was his cousin? Yes. But for the album alone I give it a 4. UGH I just like rock and roll. The person? The choices made to get there? Negative stars. The limit does not exist when it comes to my negativity. Bad vibes. Please lord let me listen to an unproblematic rock and roll album that I could give 5 stars to.
Okay I feel a little bad rating it so low but HEY this is subjective right. Once again not a bad album by any means, and instantly every song felt familiar to me. I grew up listening to alt rock and pop punk and arguably this is the band that brought it into the mainstream. I just think it didn’t hit because my music taste has expanded quite a bit since the olden days. I can recognize that this album is the foundation that led to the music I listened to growing up, so thanks for that REM. Should we talk about the government now?
Weird and I say this in the absolute best way possible. The album is like a serious arthouse production disguised by its upbeat melodies and grungy production. Its lyrics are powerful and quite frankly are what I needed to hear today. This album is about making concrete change in your life towards the things that matter. It’s about taking the reins and controlling your outcome. Love and friendship and ambition and career milestones. Don’t be passive, be yourself and unapologetically be yourself. Stay silly and value yourself - like the Talking Heads did when they recorded this album. They set boundaries and knew what they wanted their music to sound like, and even though they had to work with some difficult people to get through it, it was done and it was well done. No one said it was going to be easy.
Some filler songs but we got a good one. The singles in particular really shine. This album is a bop, despite some of the lyrics/themes absolutely not aging well. I love West Coast rap
LOVED IT!!!!!! This concept is executed to perfection. I love the artwork, the mythology, and most importantly, the music. Each song is a perfect match to its sentiment. I always get so emotional listening to pure instrumental. I was tearing up during the Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away and It Doesn’t Matter. Reminded me of fado. The raw power of music, ladies and gentleman! This experimental folksy stuff is my jam, and I hate to even try to characterize it as such. It’s a genre bending album with international influences and pure creativity. Food poisoning will do that to you I guess. But The Penguin Cafe sounds like love and harmony and I’d like to go there someday.
Something I would have loved to have seen live. The music took me to a different place, I could close my eyes and the world around me would transform into a dimly lit club with the musicians on stage, everyone either dancing or sitting in leather club chairs with a whiskey in their hand and their feet tapping to the percussion. The energy is infectious.
Iconic cover art. Music does the job well. I’m sent into a darker place at 10AM on a Thursday, wondering about the purpose of my existence and what mistakes, regrets, and hesitations led us all into this numbed normalcy, a purgatory plagued by corporate greed. Clearly I cannot listen to this on the daily. I never could fully get into Joy Division but I think this album has some enchanting lyricism and clever beats. I enjoyed it!
I still thought it was incredibly fun, albeit having more serious themes than other Stevie Wonder albums. In particular, They Won’t Go When I Go and closing on such a high energy bop like Please Don’t Go were highlights for me. And You Haven’t Done Nothin is probably the most jam-worthy critique of a president I’ve listened to. Stevie’s voice is smooth like butter. His expertise of the piano is so apparent in what he does. Everything is intentional, and it’s so groovy.
I didn’t think it was anything to fawn over. The album didn’t necessary grab my attention in that overwhelming “I NEED TO STOP AND LISTEN” kind of way. It’s the archetype for that sleazy glam pop rock sound. It’s alright with me. Revolutionary for its time, I can concede that.
Have no idea how to rate this album honestly. At first I was pleasantly shocked, knowing that this music has such historic significance. I think that’s fascinating and a little hilarious. I don’t think I’d ever listen to this on my own accord, but it’s good to know if I ever need music that sounds like the caricature of a militaristic and controversially political caricature, I got it right here. Also +1 for the music video for Opus Dei Life is Life. It’s kind of incredible.
It was fine? I listened to it but don’t have any strong feelings. You Can Call Me Al is catchy as hell and it makes sense why that song became huge. It was the most memorable in my eyes. It’s really fascinating how controversial this album is though.
Fine by me. These Californians sure do know how to make some swampy sounding tunes. This is hardcore boat music hahaha
Today I learned Car Seat Headrest is so entirely influenced by this album and the Pixies sound. The first half of the album was not doing it for me but it really came back after Where is My Mind?. I think besides Cactus (which was okay), I really jived with the rest of the album. Surprisingly strong finish!
Would you look at that… it’s aptly called Triangle for the trio of big artists this album reminded me of: the Beatles x Bob Dylan x CCR (people from SF pretending to be from the country lol).
Are You Happy? started off with big Bob Dylan energy in my opinion. I easily would have mistaken it as a Bob Dylan song. That carried through the rest of the album, with a clear British Invasion inspiration and a splash of CCR rollin down the river energy. Favorites include Only Dreaming Now and Nine Pound Hammer. Magic Hollow is so Over the Garden Wall, makes me want to rewatch it. Some of the other songs… I’m very over all the songs back then that were about girls in their prime and girls worried about their age and being plain and blah blah blah. Ick.
The value of this album lies in the lyrics. It’s great songwriting, somehow still on the nose in our current social and political context. Take this Waltz was my favorite on the album, probably because it was the most distinct song on I’m Your Man (meaning it didn’t have as much of that forced 80s synth sound, coupled with its clever songwriting). Lyrically I also appreciated First We Take Manhattan, Everybody Knows, Jazz Police.
Psychedelic music composed with mastery of the guitar only Hendrix could have achieved. The man is really good at what he does, that’s undeniable. But it just isn’t for me; it took me a while to get through the album as I was way overstimulated. The feedback and fuzziness was taking me out of it. It’s still impressive though.
So solid. A short, easy listen that makes me feel like I’m at a Devils game. There are some pretty infectious guitar licks. You can’t deny the integrity of a metal infused pop rock album.
WHO NEEDS A HOUSE OUT IN HACKENSACK? IS THAT ALL YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY?????
What a throwback! Movin’ Out in particular immediately pulls The Stranger into the upper echelon of albums for me. I used to listen to that song when driving to my high school in Hackensack. It was my battle cry “I’m getting out of here” song. The nostalgia!!
Great album, love the sax and love the piano. The Stranger, Vienna, She’s Always a Woman, Everybody Has a Dream. Classic
2.5? 2 feels harsh but I don’t think I can give the album a 3 given I felt the album was 15 minutes too long. I was just waiting for it to end. I think the latter half of the album blurs together quite a bit. The album also demands a level of concentration I was not willing to give it in order to understand what was actually being said in each song. Not to say I don’t like a screamer, but I’d prefer some annunciation. The impressive percussion casts a shadow on the other aspects of this work. It’s angsty, and it’s probably very fun live; metal usually is. Standouts for me were Eyeless (love the song’s lore) and Wait and Bleed.
