Likely one of the best live albums I've ever heard. BB Kings intimacy with the crowd is just incredible. Sound engineering was top-notch.
Heard of Hole of course but never listened to them because I didn't think I would like grunge rock. However, this album is fantastic!! 4+ starts for me!
Great album. Very energetic and creative. I've not heard of this group before but I'm a fan now!
I tried but could not "get it".
I've heard tracks from this album before but not in order, which to be honest did nothing further for me. It's fine for background listening. 3 stars.
I've heard "The Cisco Kid" many times, but never on my newer system and it absolutely slams! What a bass line. "City, Country, City" is immersive! Incredibly talented musicians.
Side 1 (first three songs) is outstanding. I could listen to it on repeat. 5 stars!
Side 2 meh - It just doesn't grab me the same way. I'm sure it would grow on me with more listens, but for now - 2 stars.
Overall: 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3. Still a treat listening to this album!!
Nerd Corner:
I listened to the original album through qobuz. I thought some of the vocals were off key. I then listened to the 50th anniversary edition to see if they auto-tuned it. And shit-howdy they did! It sounded sterile and more compressed. As usual, re-mastered albums IMHO do not sound as good as the originals unless you have the right engineers doing it.
Some great legendary songs on here. Milestone album for Eric Clapton. His guitar riffs are electric (haha). I enjoyed the popular songs but the lesser known ones are just weird. 4 stars
Disraeli Gears is a malapropism referring to bicycle gears (derailleur), inspired by a conversation among the band members.
Nerd Corner:
Several releases of this album exist, but the best is the Deluxe Edition of Disraeli Gears, which includes the original mono mix on Disc 2. The master tapes were engineered primarily for mono playback, and the album truly comes alive in that format.
Not sure I've ever heard a circular saw used as an instrument before. Oh wait, Sonic Youth. I would describe this album as Cosmic rock. Very spacey and experimental. The recording is great and the performance is well done. There is a lot more bass than I would have thought for this era of music. Would I buy the album, no but I'm glad to have heard it!
What ChatGPT listens to when it needs to relax. This was a tough listen. Me no likey!
Holy cow!! Great album! A lot going on here. I'm not a jazz fan per se but this recording grabbed me by the shoulders and shook the snot out of me! I was moved to tears on “Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue”! It blew the top off Newport! It just keep building and building until the crowd was so into it I could barely hear the band but I didn't care! It was chaotic and wonderful!
I listened to the 60th anniversary version which was remastered from the original tapes. It provided unbelievable separation and staging of the instruments and a great ambiance of the crowd. Glad I got to hear this one!
Great album of course from a super-group. I've heard these songs many times though it's been a while. I was really hoping to pull some nuance that I hadn't heard before but no. The album sounded muffled. It is a known issue with the recording that the re-issues have tried to fix. Oh well. Maybe the 60th anniversary AI edition will fix it!
Yeah... I guess
Yeah? Says who?
Yeah, eggs are expensive
Going in I knew this was going to be something different. Tried to keep an open mind as I tootled through the tracks. Started OK but wore me down towards the end. Recordings are good. The musicians are talented.
The lyrics are pure sunshine and the melodies are absolute ear candy. I couldn't get enough of the vibrant energy! Please play this at my funeral. JC! It was all I could do to get through this miserable album.
Sounds like this band is on the verge of some sort of "sound" but I can't quite place it. So I assume this is on the list for influence rather than some sort of exceptional execution.
A couple of songs were good. "Come to Me" is one of my longtime favorites. Most of the other songs were tough especially the off-key saxophone. I have trouble listening to purposeful dissonance. I get this is a very creative on her part and she will have great success.
Jazz fans like this album very much. I can appreciate it. The musicians and the songs were well executed, though the songs seem to start at one level and stay there, no building up. Recording was OK but fatiguing. Overall a bit of a struggle.
Always on my bucket list of artists to audition. Holy cow! This is the definition of smooth jazz. Unbelievable musicians, super recording. More than once I was transformed into some smoky underground jazz club just digging the vibe! Finger snaps!
WTF was Columbia Records thinking!?! Throw every song the band has and see if anything sticks? Well nothing did but this WAS an influential album only because of the experimental instrumentation. Could had been a much better album if they cut 15 tracks off it. I will say, "The American Metaphysical Circus" is the perfect anthem for today or, as one reviewer stated, "What clowns play before they kill you". Fits either way.
Not heard of Lorde before. Great first listen. Loved the album. Easy to listen to and a great many pop hooks in her songs.
Right off the bat I thought oh no, not a rap album. I was determined to give it a chance and it turned out to be a fun listen! The album just grew on me and I got more and more into it. I am going to give this 4 stars because it was such a surprise to me and it's obviously well performed and produced.
Kept getting a strong Timothy Chalamet vibe from this album. Listenable enough and I did enjoy the first few songs but just too damn long.
Heard of but not heard. I like the guitar work but the lyrics - wow, I do not get. Seems like this album belongs on the list for the influence it had. I would need multiple listens to really appreciate it but who has that kind of time. Anyway, back to Harry Styles where the lyrics politely explain themselves.
Enjoyed this immensely! Great artistry, backups were superb, recording is great. Some of these songs are as complex as symphony pieces. More please!
Cranked it and immediately grew a beard and ended up at a Trump rally.
It was ok. Did not really show me anything interesting.
You pick:
- Resurrection rock.
- If Phil Spector chose noise instead of murder.
- My apologies to tinnitus.
- Shop teacher: "What? Sounds good to me".
This is not the Joni Mitchell I knew! Wow! Great album. I enjoyed it immensely and will have to add it to my library!
They're Icelandic, so I expected ‘different,’ but this band was surprising. It was like a good wine - lush, complex, and best when you let it breathe.
Peanut butter smooth. I enjoyed their take on Summer Breeze. Absolutely great guitar work. I could definitely listen again!
Welcome! Come on in.
So what do we have here…
Ah. Yeah—no. We don’t allow that kind of language in this house.
…sigh… fine. Just keep it loud and don’t touch anything.
How this group never hit my radar is a mystery to me! Wow!! Just awesome! Hardly ever notice the drumming but did on this album. I will explore their ENTIRE library! I don't have a problem, YOU have the problem.
Heard all the hits, many times. I've never sat through an album, at least not this one. I enjoyed it! I got more insight into the band and the incredible power of Chrissie Hynde.
Let's see our next album... OH!! MY!!! GOD!!
I only think of funny reviews on albums I hate:
- If you look up “human harmonica,” you’ll see a picture of Bob Dylan.
- Reminded me to make an ENT appointment.
- I’m starting a petition: swap Dylan albums for Maroon 5. Who's with me!
Do we actually need another cover of Hallelujah? I guess we do. I was very hopeful on this selection because of the high ratings this album seems to enjoy. For me this album is uneven - some of the songs I liked and others I didn't. I guess I would do a solid 2.5 stars and round up because I'm influenced by the crowd.
Thank god it's over!
He has that talk-singing style that just makes me cringe.
The amount of reverb in this recording is insane - way over the top.
I would have rather read this album than listen to it. The lyrics are phenomenal!
Favorite review:
"The voice ground me down to a fine, lubricant grade powder"
Very different album. I did enjoy it though! I at first thought the vibrato was too much but it settled down after awhile and I got to appreciate it.
Even Sonic Youth says ‘WTF?’ I don't see why this is included in the list. And surprisingly this album has been remastered! Still edges Bob Dylan though.
Great musicians, excellent recording. I ended up listening to my equipment more than the music. I guess I'll never be a jazz guy.
