A perfect exploration of blues and soul, Otis's voice demanded respect and attention. Gone too soon.
Circling around two monumentous hits, this album is full of thoughtful lyricism and ambitious overall songwriting. The lyrics are honest and bare, all the while working in some worldy observations about society as well. "Superstition" by and large outshines the vast majority of the material here, but that doesn't mean that the songs are bad, it's just hard to top one of the greatest songs ever written, ha.
Oh yeah he was only 21 years old... damn.
A very front-loaded album, it doesn't help that two of the greatest songs ever written appear in the first half of the record as well LOL. Tiny Dancer and the title track are so mind blowingly amazing that it's hard to have the rest of the record follow up the precedent set by those two tracks. There are other good songs here though, "Holiday Inn" is actually quite nice and "Rotten Peaches" is also a quite good deep cut, but the other songs either fall flat like "Razor Face" or just sound cringey with the lyrics and the context; despite how good the instrumental may be (Indian Sunset). Still, it's a pretty good record and worth it for side A alone.
Funky and groovy disco album, funny enough the song everyone knows from this album is not actually my favorite of the bunch. I vastly prefer the chill and sweetly played "Savoir Faire". Those guitar licks are so so so so amazing, I knew Nile was a great guitarist from a technical point of view, but hearing him show off like this was a real treat. "Happy Man" was a great song especially with the bass groove, and "I want your love" was a great jam from all members firing on all cylinders. This record didn't blow me away as a whole, but I would definitely return to it for a good time groove.
Ray's voice commands attention and respect, but his true genius lies with the blending of genres such as the Blues, Gospel, jazz, and R&B together to make new sounds that were groundbreaking at the time. This record is divided into two sides, one that's mor lively and Big Band-inspired, and one that is more ballad-powered and blue. The music is very of-it's-time for me, and while it is a pleasant listen, I often have trouble focusing on the music itself because it reads as rather basic for me. Still, it's not a bad listen.
Wow.
wowowowowowowowowowow.
The energy felt on this record is unbelievable. Raw doesn't even begin to describe the pure unbridled ferocity the music has. The wailing guitars, the flying saxophone, the unhinged ranting of Iggy, it's all to make one of the most compelling and destructive examples of rock music of all time. It's just....wow.
Super well-produced and performed, it's a lovely exploration of psych pop and folk pop with a little bit of country woven in. An incredibly underrated record that I feel like needs more people to reevaluate. "The Wolf of Velvet Fortune" is especially good.
