This is a great album that's an instant throwback to a happy wild wide-open time -- musically and personally! Thrillingly fun tracks, with "Clint Eastwood" obviously surviving as the stand out that may well survive on radio and playlists until the end of human's time listening to tunes here on earth. Buoyant and maximally produced in a fun, fuzzy, head-bopping way. While I never fully understood the animated character concept, the vibes and beats and tunes are undeniable and awesome. Some of the deeper cuts here (which I may or may not have ever listened to!) are a little grittier and a lot weirder. Cool that this album contains multitudes, who knew!?
Hard not to compare this (unfavorably) with the Beatles -- it sounds SO much like late-stage Beatles (obv). So trying to evaluate it on its own, completely separate, merits is hard...almost impossible. At the same time, there is no more obvious master of tunes and hooks than McCartney. So in a world where the Beatles never existed this is a super fun, groovy rock and roll album, filled with energy and spirit.
Some of the "goofing" (Mrs Vandebilt) feels a little forced and derivative of the madcap Beatles tracks. If I had any complaint it would probably be that it overall leans a little TOO light and borders on insubstantial. But Band on the Run and Jet are deservedly pop classics and the rest of the album still holds up in 2026 as the most classic form of classic 70s pop-rock.
Never heard of Hugh Masekela before (as far as I know!?). This album rode the line in terms of the jazz I prefer -- I am more of a "mellow" and "melodic" jazz guy personally. But, while being mostly upbeat, this has a nice balance of melody and tempo and wasn't all wild and crazy dissonance. Overall, an enjoyable listen -- not one I will be returning to regularly but one I'm glad to have heard!
Pretty crazy this album is from 1967. Could pretty easily have been a band from yesterday. You can certainly still hear the resonances at the forefront of our music today. I'm not a hard rock guy or an extended electric guitar solo fanboy, so some of this isn't what I would choose to listen to in a vacuum, but there's still a ton of tunefulness and rollicking glee I can enjoy. Overall, an undeniable classic and I enjoyed hearing some of the deeper and album cuts you don't hear on the radio these days.
fun to listen to -- again not exactly my cup of tea musically for an entire album, but obviously some stone cold classics in here that are still completely delightful.
LOLOL get me out of the 70s! This is another "great album" that isn't fully to my personal taste. I like this OK without LOVING it. A little bit of Byrne goes a long way for me but I know I'm in the minority and he is a legend and an institution. (FWIW I like the artist/guru/institution of David Byrne much more than Byrne's music itself :) )
I can understand the appeal for some but this kind of preening, muscular, churning rock isn't my bag. In small doses, I could definitely like some of these tracks, but overall this album is not anywhere close to being a favorite of mine.
hahaha absolutely not.
Never listened to this album before -- aside from the "bang a gong" mega-hit I don't know that I could even have Identified a T Rex song, it's just never been in my orbit. But this is a fun and great album! A little bluesy, rocky, groovy, weird, catchy... what's not to love!?
Funny to hear an ultra-nerdy fantasy prog-rock version of Queen -- that sounds just like the Queen we all know and love -- just without the massive hits. Fun and honestly pretty hilarious.
Please stop making me listen to David Byrne? This is a great artist who I can like -- even love! -- in small doses...just not at album-length. This is "excellent," "good," "artful" rock and roll that I just don't personally enjoy/prefer. It's good, ok?!? It just gets on my nerves after awhile musically. I'm not a math-rock/art-rock enough guy for Talking Heads, I'm sorry! Please let me continue to appreciate them from afar and occasionally on the radio, 1001 Album Project!!!
