The Album Review Club - *** Christmas Break Playlist (next album 7/1/26) ***

Hearing the rain come down now and at the start of this week's selection reminds me that TS Debby is now here to hang around for the next 4 days or so. The opening track rain isn't exactly "Riders on the Storm" as this one, after the bell tolls, takes us right into Iommi's guitar and the "Black Sabbath" that Black Sabbath started on Black Sabbath.

(confused yet? ;-)

Any song that scares the bass player (not many nicknamed "Geezer" btw) down to his Catholic faith core in all the doom rock and Satan that was part of that has my vote. Geezer also named the band, and this song doesn't disappoint as an intro rocker.

Led Zeppelin's first album was released about one year earlier, and their self-titled debut album and opening song “Good Times Bad Times” were fantastic too, and also helped define them and their unique sound. While I owned Sabbath's Paranoid album, this was never a band I would listen to their back catalogue of, while I did on all of Zeppelin. I ended up listening to Ozzy’s solo albums as they came out, especially on the first 2 with Randy Rhodes. Everyone else too in middle school was listening to those 2 albums.

Ozzy’s harmonica playing totally makes “The Wizard” as it sets the tune for what the guitars later are riffing on. This is an all-out belter and pretty much continues on the theme from the first track: evil power, weaving his spell, long grey cloak, demons – this track has it all.

“Behind the Wall of Sleep” has a nice tempo change in it as it gets into the “remorse and corpse” section, that includes a nice Iommi guitar solo.

Geezer shines on the intro to “N.I.B”, before Iommi’s classic signature riff takes over. This was a song I had heard prior – as it was hard not to. Geezer’s lyrics on Satan falling in love was an interesting take. I enjoyed the music a bit more to this song than the lyrics, which by now are feeling a bit one-dimensional.

“Evil Woman” wasn’t released in the US until 2002 on a compilation album. Iommi’s guitar solo and Geezer’s bass lines after the chorus refrain were the best parts of this song.

The album ends well with “Sleeping Village” and “Warning” musically, with an emphasis on the drums, guitar, and bass, but I didn’t think Ozzy’s vocals worked so well on these, especially on the last. Thankfully there was more music than vocals.

After three listens, I liked this, but it wasn’t anything that especially stood out to me. I guess I appreciate the influence more to heavy metal than the album itself. Admittedly, I have no memories of this or nostalgia to hang my hat onto either. For that reason, I’m at a 7/10 on this, and admittedly this wouldn’t be one I’d choose to listen to over Zep’s first that started it all for them.
 
OB1 said:
Paul Kossoff, Simon Kirke. :). Andy Fraser excellent bassist and songwriter.

“Alright Now”. Is as good as it gets but plenty of other good stuff
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Ha. I think Simon Kosoff was his brother. His dad David was an actor of some repute. Free did some great stuff including 'Alright now' (which for me has been overplayed) but Im sure I had a live album of theirs that contained a cover of the Albert King, The Hunter (also included in "how Many More Times, On Zeppelin 1) which was really good.
I absolutely loved Paul Rogers voice, for me he was up there with the very best.
 
Heavy metal, yeah sure I like some heavy metal. There's that Ace of Spades by Motorhead and erm, Paranoid by Black Sabbath, that's a belter, they must be good. In fact come to think of it many years ago I heard Technical Ecstasy by them and remember liking it. Not heard it for years though and when I've just googled it it seems that it was actually a bit shit. Well, not shit but didn't go down that well with the Sabheads, or whatever they are called, with it's experimentation or something.

Why haven't I listened to Technical Ecstasy in years? Well the truth is I don't think I do like heavy metal, all that noise and high pitched wailing about the devil and the biting the heads off bats. Etc

Interesting to note the review one or two above this from @Black&White&BlueMoon Town who brings Led Zeppelin into it and the previous comments about Sabbath, Zeppelin and Deep Purple. I do like Led Zeppelin's first and have it on vinyl. I'm also partial to a bit of The Song Remains the Same although when I had a cull of my downloaded music sometime ago all the other Zeppelin albums went because, well I gave them a listen first but... and anyway isn't Led Zep 1 more bluesy than heavy metal?

The first time I played this album it was with my wife present. She definitelydoesn't like heavy metal and I think subconsciously I may have been looking for some confirmation of my existing bias. Which duly came.

I explained the "rules" to her that it had to be listened to at least three times and she said can't you just say you have. No, no thrice no, it doesn't work like that...

So three it is/ was. And it won't be any more.

But, well it wasn't so bad. One of the listens was while I was at the gym, the only time I ever listen to music on headphones. The criticisms that have been made about the lyrics here are valid but then I don't suppose they are meant to be taken that seriously and once you get into the music, some of it was OK, the riffs were fine, the extended solos or whatever dragged on a bit.

I think I actually liked Evil Woman. Not as much as the ELO version (yes I know) but it was the track on here that most resembled a song. Of the rest I can't really differentiate. The Wizard has come up on a playlist hasn't it so was more familiar but also towards the more ridiculous end of the spectrum.

I don't like to dismiss anyone's choices and my preconceptions went against it but as good as it gets is to say well it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, or fairer to say it was better but I'm not going to get into it. Although I will probably download Paranoid for my random playlist.

It's not shit just because it's not my thing and scores of five or below are reserved for that so it has to sit on that just above middling 6 line.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
A lot of 5/10 comments in a number of 7/10 reviews makes me increasingly confident that a lot of you liked this less than you are saying.
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You suggesting two tier scoring going on?

While on that, I will say this (and have done so previously). And I say this as my own conviction for my nominations, not this album. I am always more interested in the comments than the score, and would rather see a low score that 'gets' the album, than a middle of the ground score that perhaps doesn't.

I much prefer a 2 or 3 like the one Rob gave crawler the last round for exampe, where I could tell he listened to it and had a passionate response, than saying generic and inoffensive bits and giving it a 5,6. And I like responding to that and it shouldn't be taken as dissatisfaction, but as eager engagement.
 
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Saddleworth2 said:
Ha. I think Simon Kosoff was his brother. His dad David was an actor of some repute. Free did some great stuff including 'Alright now' (which for me has been overplayed) but Im sure I had a live album of theirs that contained a cover of the Albert King, The Hunter (also included in "how Many More Times, On Zeppelin 1) which was really good.
I absolutely loved Paul Rogers voice, for me he was up there with the very best.
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Paul Rodgers is one of the very best Blues rock vocalists, perhaps the finest. A very good singer. Seen him live a few times solo, with Bad Co, The Firm and Queen. Queen was interesting and demonstrated his versatility.

Last time I saw him, he was doing just Free songs. Went on the last minute as it was in Oxford. Bought seats in the Balcony but as they had not sold many tickets in that tier, we were moved to front stalls. And then for the encore, Brian Johnson and Robert Plant wandered out to sing a song with Paul.
 
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

The intro reminded me of AC/DC Hells Bells - was hoping for more of a crashing heavy metal sound to kick in but it didn’t really get going until the end.

As many have said it was overall less heavy metal and more blues rock.

Guitar riffs throughout sound great, ‘wicked world’ has a ‘Foxy Lady’ Jimi Hendrix sound.

‘Monster’ similar - great bass, guitar throughout and a blues rock jam - also ‘Warning’ - some great guitar parts in all of them.

‘Evil Women’ the most pop sounding singalong song so I enjoyed that one.

Lyrically I’ll deduct a point, never can take the concept of Devils, Evil spells and all that nonsense seriously , similar to Rush when they sing about wizards, Magic and sacred mountains .

Overall very much enjoyed, I like Black Sabbath - very talented musicianship and felt like they stayed humble throughout their career.

Easy to forget this was a landmark album spawning a whole new genre, one which I’ve never got into but for this pick I certainly enjoyed and glad it was more blues than metal.

7/10

* I forgot N.I.B and that Led Zep riff, great track.

I’ll now go 8/10 instead.
 
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OB1 said:
Paul Rodgers is one of the very best Blues rock vocalists, perhaps the finest. A very good singer. Seen him live a few times solo, with Bad Co, The Firm and Queen. Queen was interesting and demonstrated his versatility.

Last time I saw him, he was doing just Free songs. Went on the last minute as it was in Oxford. Bought seats in the Balcony but as they had not sold many tickets in that tier, we were moved to front stalls. And then for the encore, Brian Johnson and Robert Plant wandered out to sing a song with Paul.
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That sounds wonderful. Had he kept his voice intact?

Have seen Robert a number of times and he just gets better the older he gets. I love that he just rolls on, doesn't make a big deal of the past and continues to make interesting music.
 
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I don't think I'd realised how many regulars on the thread are not fans of heavy metal. Because it's a relatively rock orientated group of people I tend to make the lazy assumption that all rock genres are viewed broadly equally by the folks here which even a cursory glance tells you is not true.

My very simplistic view of heavy metal is that I like some of it in small doses and typically it tends to be the earlier acts. Then there's the occasional band I like who I know are technically metal but who sort of transcend genre, the most obvious of which for me is Motorhead. I'm sure that across what is a pretty vast landscape of metal there's other stuff I'd like but effort vs reward compared to other genres means I'm just not inclined to seek it out. I'm also fearful I'd have to plough through acres of dross to find the good stuff.

I think my enjoyment of this pick is in part listening to some of the development of the genre play out. You can definitely listen to this as an interesting bridge from what existed before to what it subsequently spawned. I relistened to Paranoid as part of this pick and I think it's a better album but this one is more interesting. I also really like the DIY vibe to it too. Finally I may also have to accept that having now lived in the Midlands longer than I lived in Manchester I've possibly become a bit brainwashed!!
 
threespires said:
I don't think I'd realised how many regulars on the thread are not fans of heavy metal. Because it's a relatively rock orientated group of people I tend to make the lazy assumption that all rock genres are viewed broadly equally by the folks here which even a cursory glance tells you is not true.

My very simplistic view of heavy metal is that I like some of it in small doses and typically it tends to be the earlier acts. Then there's the occasional band I like who I know are technically metal but who sort of transcend genre, the most obvious of which for me is Motorhead. I'm sure that across what is a pretty vast landscape of metal there's other stuff I'd like but effort vs reward compared to other genres means I'm just not inclined to seek it out. I'm also fearful I'd have to plough through acres of dross to find the good stuff.

I think my enjoyment of this pick is in part listening to some of the development of the genre play out. You can definitely listen to this as an interesting bridge from what existed before to what it subsequently spawned. I relistened to Paranoid as part of this pick and I think it's a better album but this one is more interesting. I also really like the DIY vibe to it too. Finally I may also have to accept that having now lived in the Midlands longer than I lived in Manchester I've possibly become a bit brainwashed!!
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If you look at the list of albums on page 1, there are very few pure 'Heavy Metal' albums, maybe three or four and all from the same poster :-)
Come to think of it prog rock is pretty underrepresented too. Foxtrot and Red off the top of my head. Maybe I should propose Tales from Topographic Oceans as my next pick. It would be a sure fire 9 from everybody.
 
threespires said:
I don't think I'd realised how many regulars on the thread are not fans of heavy metal. Because it's a relatively rock orientated group of people I tend to make the lazy assumption that all rock genres are viewed broadly equally by the folks here which even a cursory glance tells you is not true.

My very simplistic view of heavy metal is that I like some of it in small doses and typically it tends to be the earlier acts. Then there's the occasional band I like who I know are technically metal but who sort of transcend genre, the most obvious of which for me is Motorhead. I'm sure that across what is a pretty vast landscape of metal there's other stuff I'd like but effort vs reward compared to other genres means I'm just not inclined to seek it out. I'm also fearful I'd have to plough through acres of dross to find the good stuff.

I think my enjoyment of this pick is in part listening to some of the development of the genre play out. You can definitely listen to this as an interesting bridge from what existed before to what it subsequently spawned. I relistened to Paranoid as part of this pick and I think it's a better album but this one is more interesting. I also really like the DIY vibe to it too. Finally I may also have to accept that having now lived in the Midlands longer than I lived in Manchester I've possibly become a bit brainwashed!!
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Can't remember who it was that used the line that this was more like 'heavy blues' than heavy metal.

I have to agree. It is interesting for me, I acknowledge its influence on later bands, but those I noted are all the 'desert rock' subgenre, as opposed the true classic heavy metal that others note. And that's the sound I like in it. I'm sure they may he Did open the door to heavy metal bands, but the more direct influence is far less noticable to me.
 
Coatigan said:
Can't remember who it was that used the line that this was more like 'heavy blues' than heavy metal.

I have to agree. It is interesting for me, I acknowledge its influence on later bands, but those I noted are all the 'desert rock' subgenre, as opposed the true classic heavy metal that others note. And that's the sound I like in it. I'm sure they may he Did open the door to heavy metal bands, but the more direct influence is far less noticable to me.
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I may have mentioned the heavy blues in my opener for this one, although one or two have also picked up on it.
For the metal I listen to, this isn’t it by any measure. I think a few have pointed out the heavy plodding nature of this album which is really important in the future development of metal. No, it doesn’t have the tempo of Paranoid but it’s the doom laden lyrics, the driving bass and the lovely distortion that set the scene for what was to come.
One or two had done this before, and I don’t think anyone has mentioned the influence of the iconic Iron Butterfly album. As OB1 mentioned though, no one did it quite like Sabbath and they milked the hell (quite literally) out of what their public wanted at the time.
I’m surprised this has gone down as well as it seems to have done - I’m not so sure about my next pick :)
 
I have listened to a couple of rock live albums the past week.Albums I have not heard in years and years.
Both great
Life by Thin Lizzy and Live in the Heart of the City by Whitesnake.
It's a shame Whitesnake could get nowhere near their live sound in the studio.
 
GornikDaze said:
I think I’ve been guilty of that in the past - see my Stranglers score ;)
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My Led Zeppelin score is way over in what I think of it today.
For some reason I have stopped listening to them over the year because I find them boring all of a sudden.
The Pistols Never Mind another record I have fell out of love with.
 
bennyboy said:
My Led Zeppelin score is way over in what I think of it today.
For some reason I have stopped listening to them over the year because I find them boring all of a sudden.
The Pistols Never Mind another record I have fell out of love with.
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That happened to me a few years ago with Zeppelin. The affection has slowly returned but not for all of their stuff. Maybe it’s because a great deal of their output is overplayed. I cannot listen to StH anymore.
 
bennyboy said:
My Led Zeppelin score is way over in what I think of it today.
For some reason I have stopped listening to them over the year because I find them boring all of a sudden.
The Pistols Never Mind another record I have fell out of love with.
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Which suggests it kind of depends on mood - it does with me.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
If you look at the list of albums on page 1, there are very few pure 'Heavy Metal' albums, maybe three or four and all from the same poster :-)
Come to think of it prog rock is pretty underrepresented too. Foxtrot and Red off the top of my head. Maybe I should propose Tales from Topographic Oceans as my next pick. It would be a sure fire 9 from everybody.
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Jon still hears boos from the stage from that tour in his sleep, so best not.

You'd have me up there, but not sure how many others.
 
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