1001 Albums Summary

It's clearly an important album and important life changing music. The energy is incredible and set a template. It's maybe unfair to judge against more modern production standards but I found it really difficult on my ears. The rest of the band weren't given enough room in the mix and the whole effect of the record seemed claustrophobic and overly compressed. Given someone of Richard's dynamic range it felt like the technology of the time hasn't been able to properly render his ferocious talent. God can only imagine what seeing him live would have been like. But as a listening proposition I found it hard going. I enjoy other records from the era so I'm not sure it's just technical limitations that explain this.

I liked this. Punk and the post modern aesthetic grows up and there's a strong sense of atmosphere, musicality and the zeitgeist. In many ways I couldn't believe it's 45 years old. The first time I'd properly given any time to Siouxsie and the Banshees. You can hear the influence of this album everywhere, including I think in the direction that bands like Depeche Mode and New Order took.

Totally get why this might be seen as a classic. Some of the songs are timeless - Immigrant Song, Tangerine - but when it gets into the more folksy bluesy stuff with the extreme slide guitars I'm just not that much of a fan. All the musicians are prodigiously talented. I could listen to Robert Plants voice all day long, but to be honest prefer when he applies this to his more recent stuff, even his solo work from the 80s really works for me. Undeniably important record (I really like the early synth atmosphere on some of the tracks on the record as well) but it's not all my cup of tea.

Wow, I was really impressed. Never heard of the band or album, but will look out for more. The clarity of the drums was something I loved. But mostly this was a hit for me in its eclectic range, musicality, humanity, political awareness. But upbeat and authentic. While it all worked together and rewarded listening not absolutely every track stood out but some really did.

Raw, vulnerable singing but for me really only a glimpse of things to come. As an album it's a bit too over blown in terms of the singing. By the time Joan Baez was writing her own and has found perhaps more in the way of dynamics her legend was assured. Songs like the later Diamonds and Rust are among the most astonishing things ever written and performed but this early album is not something I think I'd find myself listening to that much.