1001 Albums Summary

The earnestness is both annoying and exhilarating. What else could it be than "Canadian indie rock"? But it makes me feel young again.

wow, 30 years since i've listened to this? "a man needs a maid" is still my favorite song from this album. nothing profound except the sadness.

My companion for decades, a balm for my soul.

Damn that's fine. Even if the guitar solo on "Free Bird" is wildly overrated.

If you get only one thing out of this album, it's that Scott LaFaro invented an entirely new conception of the bass. But why stop at one? Evans's lyricism, Motian's subtle swing, a handful of gorgeous compositions, the quiet appreciation of the audience. I've been in that basement room a bunch of times and was fortunate enough to see Paul Motian there. It is intimate and magical. If you find yourself in Manhattan on an evening, go down the steps to nirvana.

Smooth as honey. Lovely.

nope

I remember this album, it was circulating around campus when I arrived for my freshman year in 1980. The name of the band was far more controversial than the music, which is basically lo-fi new wave (NOT punk, as it seems to be labelled in many places). I sort of got it, it had the bleak vocals, bleak lyrics, and minimalist instrumental foundation that people talking about Derrida and Foucault were really into at the time. And on some meta- level I guess it is anti-virtuosic, anti-performance music, which is in keeping with the excitement generated by deconstruction theory without lapsing into irony. It almost screams "what does this music mean?" But it really is music of its time; I haven't listened to it in over 40 years, and if I listen again before I shuffle off this mortal coil I'll be (pleasantly) surprised. 4 stars for its place in history, 2 starts for execution and deeper power--a total of 3 stars.