1001 Albums Summary

Begins with a pleasant, upbeat excitement - like the first days of summer - outside, live music playing, a cold beer, friends around. It's optimistic, you're not even hoping at this point - you know things are going to be grand. "Son of a Preacher Man" is the crescendo of this inspired feeling. Then, things shift into a sultry, almost-but-not-quite heartbroken place. There's confusion, but it's tender. There's sadness, but it's accepted as par for the romantic course. There's a breathy anticipation here that feels like swooning and falling. It's intoxicating - when you're in the throes of passion, you'll gloss over things that are upsetting in service of the overall experience. We have to keep going - do we even have a choice? "Windmills in Your Mind" shows up then, and shifts gears. Slightly psychedelic, my favorite track on the album. It's mesmerizing. When heartache gives way to introspection which gives way to enlightenment. How many spirals will it take to resolve this hurt? Back to wistful again, tender, a touch of mourning. But that gives way to empowerment. We're back on top, but we've gained a secure kind of resilience that was distinctly lacking in the delicate, naive beginnings. We're back on top, but we've gained strength, wisdom, and humility.