This is an album I own but haven't listened to for some time, so it's nice to come back to it.
The things I really like: the 2 or 3 genuinely great songs on here; My My, Hey Hey, Thrasher and Powderfinger all feel timeless and evocative pieces of songwriting. Also the way the album moves into grittier and more intense music as it progresses, likewise some of the overdriven guitar tones are epic.
At the same time, I struggle a bit with the narrative, the overall consistency (it's all 'good' but not all 'great' - at least to me) and, obviously Neil's voice is somewhat divisive.
Decent, but it wouldn't make my top shelf of records.
Not an artist or album (or indeed style of music) that I know well, so was interesting to discover it here. I enjoyed the story-telling and the overall production, particularly the clarity of the guitar-picking and some of the harmonies, which are really well sung.
The guy has a great voice, tonally, and I like the understated style, especially when overlaid with the harmonies.
It's the less ballad-like numbers which resonate more with me; I enjoyed The Masters Call, Running Gun, The Hanging Tree and Saddle Tramp. 160 Acres and Big Iron are probably the two songs which stand out for me. Others feel less memorable and, when groupes together suffer from a lack of dynamism / variety for me, personally.
As an album, this is (as described) a collection of similar themed tunes, in a style that I like but don't necessarily love, and so I'd be more inclined to dip in and out of it than listen as a whole; for me I'd prefer 10-11 songs, vs the 15 on here.
Lastly, I can't get my head around this having been first released in 1959 - 67 years ago.
Had the LP sitting in my collection but had previously dismissed it, having not warmed to it on a first listen.
Some great songwriting in here, and musicianship (particularly the bass-playing, which is classy as). Bookends are my favourites, as stand out 'bangers' and I found the rest entirely listenable, though also too consistently downbeat and weepy for my usual tastes. I can see why it's such a well-rated album, just not necessarily my cup of tea.
The Kinks are a band that I thought I knew quite well, but I hadn't listened to this album. I enjoyed the variety and inventiveness of this. There are some really solid pop tunes on here, though like lots of records of the time they frequently end just as I feel they're about to get going! As an album I would prefer this as a slightly shorter and tighter 10-11 songs; there are a few cases where the simplistic lyrics grate a bit, or where it descends into a bit too much whimsy / tweeness for my liking, but that's the minority and I there is a lot on here that I enjoyed, including hearing the influence on later indie and rock bands that I have separately enjoyed (Shins, Cardiacs).
I love the vibe of this album, in terms of the quiet competence of the playing, little flourishes of horns, strings or organ to lift what is overall a quite stripped back sound, needed to let Al Green's subtle vocals have the right prominence.
The vocals are the other real treat on here, in terms of the smoothness, tone and emotion they bring with them.
It's a really short record, at only 34 minutes. I really like the balance of consistent tone with a range of different tempo / feelings across the 9 tracks, it feels like a coherent and well-packaged album.
To be slightly critical, I feel that 1-2 tunes are more like jams rather than fully formed songs, and I think the lyrical content is at times is a little lacking in breadth and depth. But overall an album I would come back to and would definitely play loud on a mellow weekend morning.
Know this one well. Love the beats, love the lyrical style and cadence, equally the content. None of the gimmicks, grand-standing or interlude-ey filler here, and no bad tracks on the album. Top draw hip-hop.
