If you ask anyone on the street to name songs from Hotel California, most likely the title track is the only one they’ll be able to name you. This is due to the fact that this song was overplayed to death on the radio at the time. For 1976, I don’t find this album to be adding anything special to the canon in musical history besides the title track. Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Ramones just to name a few from 1976 had much better projects that made much more of an impact imo.
The opening track Hotel California has a great melody and fantastic guitar solo. It’s a classic for a reason. However, I think it should have been released as a single as it is too good of a song and the rest of the record doesn’t live up to it.
My thoughts on this project is that I can’t help but feel that this records popularity is only due to the opening track being played over and over into people’s psyche that has contributed to its popularity. It is lyrically lacklustre, riffs are not that memorable and artistic choices lack depth. The ballads are so lacklustre. They lack heart and soul. For example, why do we have a Wasted Time (Reprise)? Does it add anything to the album experience or to the song right before it? I’m not too sure one can say anything impactful about these choices.
However, I will say that the album has a strong finish with its 2 last songs. Try And Love Again is a GEM. Probably my favourite cut on the album. The hook is very rewarding and the guitar riffs are tasteful and everything is such a vibe.
The Last Resort is also really good. The slide guitar and overall production with the strings and piano and everything makes it very compelling. I wish the rest of the album followed suit.
Overall, there are much better records of the time that I’d much rather spend time with than this one.
Hotel California 85
New Kid In Town 30
Life In The Fast Lane 40
Wasted Time 20
Wasted Time (Reprise) 10
Victime Of Love 20
Pretty Maids All In a Row 20
Try and Love Again 95
The Last Resort 90
Rating 45/100
First off, the production on this thing is tight. Listening to Sister Sledge reminds you of why Daft Punk chose to sample their 1982 song "Il Macquillage Lady" for their 2001 track "Aerodynamic" from the Discovery album.
The opener is a banger. Great track with tight grooves.
The slow ballad Somebody Loves Me is also a joy to listen to and a nice break from the funk of the 2 last tracks.
Thinking of you is okay but not my favourite on the first half of the record.
We Are Family is a classic and the most well known track on the album. It’s played a lot on tv and films etc sometimes as a parody. It’s a fun track to be played imo in a party context. But it’s probably my least favourite cut on the record.
Easier to Love is fantastic. That little flute thing in the back of the groove is killer.
You’re a Friend To Me starts almost with a reggae bass groove melded with the funk and disco of the record. It then goes into this R&B gem of a track. It’s a great cut.
The closer is just okay. Not a strong finish to the record but decent nonetheless.
He’s The Great Dancer 10
Lost In Music 9
Somebody Loves Me 9
Thinking Of You 9
We Are Family 6
Easier to Love 9
You’re a Friend to Me 8
One More Time 7
8.38/10
Tom Sawyer is such a great opener. The panning synths tickle your brain and the whole song as whole is just very satisfying to listen too. All the punches on the track just slays. Neil Peart said of the lyrics: “Tom Sawyer was a collaboration between myself and Pye Dubois, an excellent lyricist who wrote the lyrics for Max Webster. His original lyrics were kind of a portrait of a modern day rebel, a free-spirited individualist striding through the world wide-eyed and purposeful. I added the themes of reconciling the boy and man in myself, and the difference between what people are and what others perceive them to be—namely me, I guess.”
Red Barchetta is another great cut. The lyrics are imaginative about someone going to his uncle’s farm sneaking out to take his red barchetta sports vehicle. The song's lyrics tell a story set in a future in which many classes of vehicles have been banned by a "Motor Law." You can hear tires screeching in the song and overall it has a very nostalgic free spirit vibe to the track.
YYZ is a classic. The beat for those who don’t know is inspired by the IATA airport identification code of Toronto Pearson International Airport in Morse code, near Rush's hometown. The piece's introduction, played in a time signature of 10/8 repeatedly renders "Y-Y-Z" in Morse Code using various musical arrangements. To me this song sounds like your going through Pearson airport trying to get in a busy crowd to hopefully catch your flight on time.
Limelight isn’t just an 80’s prog classic. It’s an 80’s classic period. It talks about the seeming glamorous life of being a rockstar that is often perceived from the outside but in fact feeling trapped in the inside. Great stuff.
The Camera Eye is a bit of a low point on the album for me. Lyrics are kind of generic about New York and London but really the way it’s written could have described any 2 cities in the world. Musically it’s a decent prog song but it drags a little for me.
Witch Hunt. Interesting fact about this song. It was recorded on the same day as the death of John Lennon. Thematically I guess it’s a song that criticizes intolerance using mob analogies. Song kind of drags for me too on this one.
Vital Signs. A song about individuality and the pressures of conforming. This has some Police influence. It incorporates reggae beats and prog electronica. It’s an okay closer but not my favourite cut on the album.
In summary, the first half of this record is perfection for me. The second half is a bit of a drag. Great record overall.
Tom Sawyer 10
Red Barchetta 10
YYZ 10
Limelight 10
The Camera Eye 7
Witch Hunt 8
Vital Signs 9
9.14/10
This album is pop perfection. It’s better than thriller as far as cohesiveness is concerned. The production is experimental and lush and it works. There isn’t any album really that sounds like purple rain. This is peak Prince.
Classic/10
Top tier AC. I mean for me the first 3 albums are 10/10. The easthetic of Neon Bible tho was one of the best for AC.
Il not a fan of sitar. It can be tasteful sometimes but even in the Beatles tracks it annoys me. Just cuz of that not a fan.
This is obviously one of those albums that if you’ve been into music long enough, learn that it is a very important one. John Coltrane’s Love Supreme not only is important in the world of Jazz but has also influenced all types of music influencing acts such as The Doors and Carlos Santana.
I’ve been trying to get into this album for ages. While I immediately could recognize the gravity and talent of the work, I had a hard time connecting with it on an emotional level.
It wasn’t until I listened to the Mono version that it all came together. While the stereo is clearer on an instrument to instrument basis, it feels too spacious and disconnected. There is a lot of what feels like dead space and John Coltrane’s musical choices are hard to understand as a result. The mono makes it much more evident and really gives you a better comprehension of what was all going on. The modal playing gels in a way that the stereo, imo, does not make as evident.
This is a 5 star album and one of the greatest records of all time.
Not my thing. Maybe one day but not today.
It’s okay not my favourite punk record. I’d much prefer listening to the clash.
Side 1
Tracks 1-3 were slow. Gave me a circus carnival vibe and was a bit apprehensive in getting into the rest of the record.
Tracks 4-7 are amazing and is where things start to pickup for me. Love the ballad “Johnsburg, Illinois” and the driving beat of “16 Shells From A 30.6”. Tom Waits sounds amazing on both cuts. Tom Waits sounds very compelling as well in “Town With No Cheer” and “In the Neighborhood”.
Side 2
The other half of the record is solid. The only track I had a bit of a hard time with was “Trouble’s Braids”. The instrumentals opening the side and closing it are great as well.
Except for the first 3 tracks and “Trouble’s Braids” I think it’s a solid effort.
4/5
There is a reason I never heard of this. I’d rather listen to the Beatles, beach boys or the beegees. This album was uninteresting and uninspiring and does not stand the test of time.
Run DMC cannot be disregarded in the history and culture of hip hop. But they are dated and lack substance. The more and more time goes by, other than being a historical relic, this thing does not stand its ground.
One of the best albums of all time. It’s lush, it’s emotional and it’s poignant.
I know Massive Attack are important in the world of trip hop but I’ve always had trouble connecting with the collective. I’m a huge fan of Portishead’s whole discography so it’s not like I don’t dabble in trip hop. This project to me just sound bland. Not bad but bland. Not a fan of the light my fire sample either.
Might be Bjork’s best maybe just behind Homogenic.
It’s definitely a good album. That’s why I put it 4 stars. But is Neil Young for me? I’ve decided that I’m not a Neil Young dude. I can recognize when something is good and potentially influenced the grunge scene. But yeah Neil Young just doesn’t do it for me. I can’t explain why. But good on you for loving him.
Talented…but I don’t get it. Wild West End is a good track. Sultans of Swing obviously is the classic song but I’m kind of tiered of it. Meh, it’s okay not crazy about it.
Oasis is all about attitude. If you’re not in that type of mood it can drag. This is a good album. I would say even a great album. But yeah I kind of get bored by the repetitiveness within the tracks. If your not in that mood, it won’t hit. Oasis is one of those bands that fill an itch when you need it. Overall, this is a solid 4/5. Definitely maybe is the better record for me and what started it all. But I’d say Morning Glory has the higher highs.
Good record. Probably a top 3 Elton John record.
Classic record. Ahead of its time. Even the Rolling Stones tried to copy it in a poor attempt with “my satanic’s majesty’s request”.
This record is a feat in production just as Brian Wilson’s Pet Sounds.
A day in the life is one of the best tracks and closers of an album of all time!
Legendary. The Judas heckler, and the hostile audience and how Dylan is responding to that in his performance is just insane. Amazing gig.
Top 3 Springsteen record and probably top 10 record of the 80’s
