1001 Albums Summary

My very first impression, a lifetime ago, was simply: "This sounds like YES."Granted, in those days, taping songs off FM radio was my main source of music discovery, and as a mere junior high schooler, my perspective was limited. Yet, if you were to ask for my impression today, I would say: "It sounds like Happy End."But enough of those whimsical comparisons.Listening with matured ears today, the psychedelic flourishes and raw rock elements are no longer the main draw.While the distinct individuality of all four members is undeniably brilliant—with each carving out remarkable paths later in their careers—it is the songwriting of Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell that captivates me most.Whether driven by their intimacy at the time remains a mystery, but the sheer quality of their catchy, pop-infused melodies is unparalleled.Even the title track, "Déjà Vu," carries a psychedelic edge that genuinely echoes the progressive rock of YES.It leaves no doubt as to why this album is universally hailed as a masterpiece.And Neil Young’s vocals possess an indescribable, haunting melancholy that is utterly irresistible.

POLISの最後の最後のスタジオアルバム 当時は聴いてませんでした。 今聴くとソングライティングもアレンジも演奏もおしなべて高品質。 Synchronicity II のPVは今見るととても微笑ましいですが、最もロックな感じのこの曲もとても抑制が効いていて細かい所にも目が行き届いていると感じます。 Synchronicity II 以降のEvery Breath You Take、King of Pain 、Wrapped Around Your Finger、Tea in the Sahara、それから当時アルバムには収められなかったMurder by Numbersはどれも聴く価値のある曲だと思います。 Murder by Numbersは比較的わかりやすくテンションコードを響かせて大人っぽい雰囲気を出していますが、むしろその前のTea in the Saharaの方がアレンジ的にはヤバい位に削ぎ落とした音数とメロディとリズムの組み合わせで作り手としての底知れなさを感じます。 もちろんフックが強力で今となってはエバーグリーンミュージックと言ってよいEvery Breath You Takeは何度聴いても飽きることがない名曲。 でもこのアルバムが最高傑作かというと、どうでしょう？ 他のアルバムにも結構魅力的な曲が入ってるし、各自のソロアルバムも聴きどころは多いからね。

I once heard that Jimi Hendrix had a complex about his own vocals.Anyone can immediately tell, even without listening to this album, how his masterly guitar playing dealt a massive shock to the guitarists of his era.Listening to tracks like "Little Wing" or "Bold as Love," you can truly appreciate his skill in controlling a song’s color gradation through songwriting and chord progressions. This evokes the image of a classical or jazz player, composer, or arranger, rather than a rock musician.The rhythm section during this period held a different charm from the later Band of Gypsys, driving Jimi forward with a rugged, improvisational playing style.The way the rhythm section responds to his guitar strumming is by no means polished, but it possesses an irresistible charm that makes it quite endearing.Even on the blues tracks, the guitar sounds spacey, and the wide variety of styles ensures you never get bored.Rather than a god-like "super guitarist," I felt a strong sense of his humanity.His guitar playing is not some superhuman, technical feat either; even with the heavy use of electric effects, it remains a raw, emotional performance driven by frequent string bending.To return to my opening point, his vocals are also deeply human and raw.While he seemed to worry about them himself, I find them incredibly charming.

たぶんこのアルバムを聴くのは初めてだけれど、ヒットした最初の曲は知っていた。 この曲以外の曲も全て丁寧に作られていて、好感が持てる。 おそらくは今の世代にも通じるのではないだろうか。 当時も少し懐かしく感じるアレンジやキャッチーなフックにメランコリックな曲も最後まで飽きさせない。 あっけらかんとした所が魅力的ですね。

人懐っこいメロディが充満していて、とても耳障りが良いが、歌詞は結構社会的みたい。 単に聴き心地がよいので何度も聴けるし、通して聴いても全然飽きさせない。気がつくとすっかり曲を覚えてしまっていることに気づく始末。

幻想的出ちょっとセンチメンタル