Quick, name an album that you anticipated listening to for years, only to finally hear it and be completely disappointed. All Things Must Pass fits the bill for me.
Oh man, the Dennis Wilson album, "Pacific Ocean Blue" was a big disappointment. I had heard of it like it was Jesus on tape, but it seemed dated and kind of boring. Also, "Smile," when I finally heard it, didn't really do anything for me.
Oh man, you're right on the money about both of those as far as I'm concerned. Smile was a mess, a hodge-podge of song ideas that reflected Wilson's disorganized mind when he started working on it. According to that Nick Kent book I just finished, Wilson filled the studio with vegetables when they recorded "Vege-Tables," in an attempt to get the "right vibe."
And Pacific Ocean Blue was repetitive to the point of absurd. (You like the ocean, I get it.) Also - and this is going to sound weird - it sounded a little too much like Joe Walsh to me.
Back to All Things for a minute, I think Harrison gets a pass because he was a Beatle. Most of his solo output was limp.
Another recent one for me I'll throw out is Hawkwind's Space Ritual. The Sex Pistols loved these guys, and even covered "Silver Machine" on a recent reunion, but it's wanky hippie sci-fi. And forget the laughable spoken word parts ... "Space is immeasurable. It doesn't like Jerry Lewis and it doesn't get hemorrhoids ..."
I reluctantly agree with you, Joe. McCartney ran out of steam pretty quickly when he parted ways with his songwriting foil, Harrison's output was spotty, and Ringo's series of novelty songs are easily dismissed. (That should guarantee a little piss and vinegar from Dave eventually.)
But I think the Pistols genuinely liked Hawkwind. Steve Jones certainly speaks of them affectionately on Jonesy's Jukebox.
Nah, I'm with you on most of the post-Beatles stuff. I actually like Macca's the best overall, but only because there is more to choose from. Both Plastic Ono Band and Imagine are good start to finish, but otherwise, most of Lennon's stuff was spotty at best. Ringo- meh.
Harrison was a bigger enigma to me. He was my least favorite Beatle for many years, just because. I never appreciated (or, to be honest) listened to his solo stuff until he died. If you want to hear fantastic, passionate renditions of his best Beatles and solo stuff, get 'The Concert for George'. One disc of Ravi Shankar, but one disc of pure gold: Clapton, Petty, McCarntey, Starr, Lynne, Preston, and a host of others playing the shit out of George's stuff.
If you boil All Things Must Pass down to a single disc, you've got a winner. Beware of Darkness is just the most amazing song to me, as well as the title track and Isn't it a Pity. The jam disc is a throwaway to me and Wah Wah is annoying. Clapton plays all over this album but was uncredited due to contractual things.
To answer the task: The Band, Music from Big Pink. Got it earlier this year and it is perhaps the most dated and boring album I have ever heard. Robbie Robertson has about as much 'genius' as I do muscle mass.
I feel too late to respond, but I certainly hear ya on Smile. For me, The Velvet Underground and Nico comes to mind, though I feel like an idiot admitting it.
8 comments:
Oh man, the Dennis Wilson album, "Pacific Ocean Blue" was a big disappointment. I had heard of it like it was Jesus on tape, but it seemed dated and kind of boring. Also, "Smile," when I finally heard it, didn't really do anything for me.
Oh man, you're right on the money about both of those as far as I'm concerned. Smile was a mess, a hodge-podge of song ideas that reflected Wilson's disorganized mind when he started working on it. According to that Nick Kent book I just finished, Wilson filled the studio with vegetables when they recorded "Vege-Tables," in an attempt to get the "right vibe."
And Pacific Ocean Blue was repetitive to the point of absurd. (You like the ocean, I get it.) Also - and this is going to sound weird - it sounded a little too much like Joe Walsh to me.
Back to All Things for a minute, I think Harrison gets a pass because he was a Beatle. Most of his solo output was limp.
Another recent one for me I'll throw out is Hawkwind's Space Ritual. The Sex Pistols loved these guys, and even covered "Silver Machine" on a recent reunion, but it's wanky hippie sci-fi. And forget the laughable spoken word parts ... "Space is immeasurable. It doesn't like Jerry Lewis and it doesn't get hemorrhoids ..."
Outside of Lennon's stuff, and a small handful of Macca's, I would say Beatles' solo output in general was limp. There, I said it.
Wasn't the Pistols' affection for Hawkwind sort of tongue-in-cheek? I mean, they didn't even smoke pot, did they?
Wow, slow day on the blargh.
I reluctantly agree with you, Joe. McCartney ran out of steam pretty quickly when he parted ways with his songwriting foil, Harrison's output was spotty, and Ringo's series of novelty songs are easily dismissed. (That should guarantee a little piss and vinegar from Dave eventually.)
But I think the Pistols genuinely liked Hawkwind. Steve Jones certainly speaks of them affectionately on Jonesy's Jukebox.
Nah, I'm with you on most of the post-Beatles stuff. I actually like Macca's the best overall, but only because there is more to choose from. Both Plastic Ono Band and Imagine are good start to finish, but otherwise, most of Lennon's stuff was spotty at best. Ringo- meh.
Harrison was a bigger enigma to me. He was my least favorite Beatle for many years, just because. I never appreciated (or, to be honest) listened to his solo stuff until he died. If you want to hear fantastic, passionate renditions of his best Beatles and solo stuff, get 'The Concert for George'. One disc of Ravi Shankar, but one disc of pure gold: Clapton, Petty, McCarntey, Starr, Lynne, Preston, and a host of others playing the shit out of George's stuff.
If you boil All Things Must Pass down to a single disc, you've got a winner. Beware of Darkness is just the most amazing song to me, as well as the title track and Isn't it a Pity. The jam disc is a throwaway to me and Wah Wah is annoying. Clapton plays all over this album but was uncredited due to contractual things.
To answer the task: The Band, Music from Big Pink. Got it earlier this year and it is perhaps the most dated and boring album I have ever heard. Robbie Robertson has about as much 'genius' as I do muscle mass.
I feel too late to respond, but I certainly hear ya on Smile. For me, The Velvet Underground and Nico comes to mind, though I feel like an idiot admitting it.
I still haven't heard Music From Big Pink, but now I won't bother, and I will look for The Concert For George.
Lurker, I see where you're coming from on The VU and Nico. Idiot.
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