The Album Review Club - Week #147 - (page 1942) - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

[Coatigan]

I've listened to the Idles before, not this album though and it was probably at the behest of @threespires if I remember right on this or one of the other music threads. I didn't persevere and first listen of this album suggested this was going to be a slog. Still we are by now contractually obliged to give it three listens.

Surprisingly this was already becoming more palatable on the second go round and by the time I'd listened to it on headphones at the gym and a couple more times besides, mainly in small doses to be fair on short car trips, it was becoming generally comfortable.

It's definitely at the harder edge of what I would;d listen to nowadays, don't think I've played Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in an age and when a recent nostalgia trip had me listening to the Wall, the band that is not the album I quickly returned to the current age.

This album opens well, MTT 420 RR is pretty untypical I think but a good intro, The Wheel so so and When the Light Comes On good and suggesting the album was ready to get into it's stride. Sadly it was a backward step from there, Car Crash is an unpleasant noise and The New Sensation a good idea poorly executed. I'll throw in Wizz while I'm giving out the brickbats, a pointless and mercifully brief racket.

The middle section though contains three consecutive bangers (I believe that is the word that is in vogue to describe a rollicking good tune). I can tolerate the vocals, no more than that on these three songs it's a perfect fit.

Meds hit me in a similar way to the New Sensation, not as good or clever as it might think it is, Kelechi and Progress OK without pulling up any trees.

King Snake is a joyous thing, it reminded me of shambolic rockabilly style of the Fall. That's a good thing by the way. The End could have gone either way but is a really strong closer, love the sentiments and the rough ess of the vocals made it all the more affecting. For all it's positivity and optimism though I wouldn't want him reading my children (well when they were children) a bedtime story...

While writing this I've got the Spotify top tracks on, while a bit surprised by the variety of sounds I don't think I'm going to become a convert. But I've got a drive to their home city of Bristol coming up and plenty of time to give them a bit more of a listen.

I'd have to say this album is better than I feared. Not sure I'll listen to it in its entirety again but for sure some of the tracks are going to stay on the random playlists. The good bits are better at being good than the bits that fail to hit the mark and for me it's worth a 7

I am assuming the joke about reading your children a bedtime story was a coincidental metaphor. Rather than a reference to his recent appearance on Cbeebies Bedtime Stories, reading children nationwide, a story.

Enjoyed the review btw.

 

[journolud]

I am assuming the joke about reading your children a bedtime story was a coincidental metaphor. Rather than a reference to his recent appearance on Cbeebies Bedtime Stories, reading children nationwide, a story.

Enjoyed the review btw.

I had no idea he had done that and nearly said that he wouldn't be likely to turn up on Jackanory anytime soon...

 

[Coatigan]

I had no idea he had done that and nearly said that he wouldn't be likely to turn up on Jackanory anytime soon...

Fyi.

 

[threespires]

Fyi.

Haha that's brilliant. Cbeebies taking the piss, got to be a producer who's an Idles fan. Bless him, I know he's got his own and I'm sure he's a great Dad but the more he tries to be cuddly and comfy the more unsettling he becomes :-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

Have you decided yet, mate? ; )

Can’t talk. I have a knitting needle through my tongue.

 

[Coatigan]

Can’t talk. I have a knitting needle through my tongue.

Brilliant

 

[GornikDaze]

@Coatigan gave me a heads up on Idles (I’ll lose the caps) some time ago. Whenever that was I gave them a listen and noted them for future reference. Sometimes future reference just doesn’t happen.
It was pure coincidence that led me to listening to their latest album last week which I’m quite enjoying so this weeks selection was just perfect timing.
For a bit of further context I’ve also managed to find myself listening to ‘doom synth’ in the form of a band from Norwich called Kulk - a quick try of them on Spotify will give you the general idea. They make Idles sound like the Osmonds.
Anyway I digress… onto this weeks offering. I think I mentioned in my previous post that the vocals were a bit annoying and the context of drug use etc was not relatable. My second point thankfully still stands, but my opinion of the vocals has changed. I’m not going to pick out good and bad tracks. As Coatigan mentioned it’s an album I think to listen to in its bludgeoning entirety, and certainly not one to skip after the opening few seconds of each track (one of my faults with new music). Yes the vocals vary but they do so I think in context and change with the tone of the track. There are times when he reminds me of Mark E Smith (legend) which is no bad thing. The rest of the band are tight. There’s always that drum beat to latch onto just when you take a breather. The bass and guitar chime together nicely and have great distorted/dischordant feel. I disagree about the chords and general musical feel that others have mentioned - to my delicate ears, this is great music.
Solid 9/10 from me - this is an epic album. It grabs you, turns you upside down and spits you out at the end.
Remember, in spite of it all, Life is Beautiful!

 

[Out on blue 6]

What a proper marmite pick. No wishy washy 5s and 6s here. You love it or hate it. I have all the albums so regard myself as a fan but even though this isn't my favourite (I reserve that for Joy) it's an easy 8.

Not a lot of non regulars scoring this which shows a certain amount of nostalgia to some picks which even though there is nothing wrong with that it does lend itself to high scores. Don't remember anyone coming on from outside saying Eyeless In Gaza what a load of shit 1 out of 10.

Nice reference from Gornikdaze to Mark E. I await Hex Enduction Hour with baited breath

 

[Saddleworth2]

I have listened to it a couple of times. Don't need any more. So first up it's not really my kind of music (I just cited Bowie, Bush and the Beach Boys having albums that I score a ten). However I can listen happily to Jimbo at his most deranged singing celebration of the lizard. I do like a bit of unusual vocals - those that haven't got great voices but their singing/saying/speaking/whispering/roaring suits their music. There was stuff I liked in this album especially the opener, MTT420RR and Car Crash. I liked the dissonance of some of the chord changes, the bass lines and drum breaks were nice and tight at times and introduced tension in some of the tracks. I liked their full on in your face stuff least and the tracks with light and shade best.
Are they genuine or do they sell grief and pain? I tend towards the former without discounting that there is a half shut cynical eye on the latter. I doubt I will return to this or their back catalogue but enjoyed being introduced to this band even if its just to interrupt and baffle my granddaughters incessant chat of Billie, Taylor and the like. So I will give it a sitting on the fence 5

 

[RobMCFC]

I have listened to it a couple of times. Don't need any more. So first up it's not really my kind of music (I just sited Bowie, Bush and the Beach Boys having albums that I score a ten). However I can listen happily to Jimbo at his most deranged singing celebration of the lizard. I do like a bit of unusual vocals - those that haven't got great voices but their singing/saying/speaking/whispering/roaring suits their music. There was stuff I liked in this album especially the opener, MTT420RR and Car Crash. I liked the dissonance of some of the chord changes, the bass lines and drum breaks were nice and tight at times and introduced tension in some of the tracks. I liked their full on in your face stuff least and the tracks with light and shade best.
Are they genuine or do they sell grief and pain? I tend towards the former without discounting that there is a half shut cynical eye on the latter. I doubt I will return to this or their back catalogue but enjoyed being introduced to this band even if its just to interrupt and baffle my granddaughters incessant chat of Billie, Taylor and the like. So I will give it a sitting on the fence 5

You should try listening to some Taylor Swift, she is a very good songwriter with an ear for a good melody.