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

[OB1]

Roth's shrieks are signature and unique, and his braggadocio and machismo and sex-symbol-itis is always delivered with a wink and a smile. He's regularly poking fun at himself (imagine another arena rock singer covering "Just A Gigolo" the way he did). He also always seemed like he was having the time of his life. VH did punk speed as well as country-blues speed and DLR could work with either.

For my money, maybe not the "greatest" front man in rock history, but my favo(u)rite one. And EVH is absolutely one of my top three favo(u)rite guitarists too (along with Bob Mould of Husker Du/Sugar and Angus Young).

As a rock "front man", Roth is both the best I've seen and my favourite, and I've seen plenty of the greats.

Eddie is one of my two favourite guitarists (Blackmore is the other).

 

[OB1]

The best keyboard riff ever and a fantastic song.

No surprise it's one of my favourites. It's #4 on the list of 20 that I sent BH on 26 July 2020.

 

[RobMCFC]

No surprise it's one of my favourites. It's #4 on the list of 20 that I sent BH on 26 July 2020.

I never saw Van Halen live but I've seen this song covered twice.

Once was at The Lowry (the Classic Rock Show, I think) and once was at a hotel on an outdoor stage in Mallorca.
It's such a great riff that it's hard to mess up for any half-decent covers band!

 

[OB1]

maybe it's because it's played everytime i turn on radio

Yeah, that's because it is so good.

Talking of the radio, when we were on a road trip in the US this summer, the most played bands on Classic Rock radio during our stay were Led Zep, Def Leppard and Van Halen both in terms of number of plays and range of songs.

 

[Coatigan]

When I was around 14 I got into Led Zeppelin big time. Then to an extent Sabbath and Deep Purple but never to the same degree as I considered them vastly inferior to LZ. My peer group were not heavily into American bands with the exception of Frank Zappa and Hendrix, there was enough that was vibrant on the U.K. scene with the Who and Stones at the top of their game and the emerging prog scene with Yes, Genesis and Floyd at the top of theirs. Hard rock became less and less important to us. If someone tried to put Aerosmith on at a party for example, woof. It didn’t end well. For that reason, my prejudices (and they are prejudices) hardened by my early 20s and I have really not really listened much at all to that whole genre, Aerosmith, Guns n Roses, Rush, Van Halen. When I have listened it’s been, meh, Zeppelin or x band or y band are better. @OB1 last choice of Rush made me listen with an open mind and I have to say I did enjoy some of their stuff and appreciated the musicianship. Hopefully it will be the same with this.

That's kind of it. I was happily into Led Zep (belatedly, I am not of that age), Deep Purple, not so much sabbath, but that 'pre-metal' scene I quite liked. Just couldn't get into Van Halen, Iron maiden and other such big names. Then absolutely loved the 'post-metal' bands, still do, a few of which paved the way for Grunge. Such as Kyuss and a few that stemmed from them. It is that middle peak of metal I never managed to get into.

And listening to this album, I can maybe see my answer to why that is. It is just a bit too chirpy-cheery for me. The skill and depth is certainly there though, no doubt.

Incidentally, quite liked G'n'R, never gor into Metallica. Was indifferent to Aerosmith. But those few don't necessarily compare for me.

 

[OB1]

I never saw Van Halen live but I've seen this song covered twice.

Once was at The Lowry (the Classic Rock Show, I think) and once was at a hotel on an outdoor stage in Mallorca.
It's such a great riff that it's hard to mess up for any half-decent covers band!

I only saw them 12 times; although 2 of those were with Hagar on vocals. I've also seen Roth 7 times as a solo artist.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

I am somewhat similar, at least when it comes to the big hitters. Including Van Halen. It Should be right up my street. There are plenty offshoot 'sub' genres either leading up to the true heavy metal and hard rock greats, and ones that came as a result of them, that I absolutely love. But the core ones, that defined it, I always struggled to get into, try as I might. Could never quite say why.

Let's see what this round brings.

Saved me a write up.
They’ve always been a band I felt I should be into. They have all the ingredients but somehow miss the spot with me.

I’ve done three listens though to be fair to them.
It got more tolerable each time but ultimately it’s a D minus from me.
They and Eddie in particular are technically great, but if I only had one word to try and describe why I don’t get them, it would be ‘Soulless’.
Sorry @OB1 .

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

When I was around 14 I got into Led Zeppelin big time. Then to an extent Sabbath and Deep Purple but never to the same degree as I considered them vastly inferior to LZ. My peer group were not heavily into American bands with the exception of Frank Zappa and Hendrix, there was enough that was vibrant on the U.K. scene with the Who and Stones at the top of their game and the emerging prog scene with Yes, Genesis and Floyd at the top of theirs. Hard rock became less and less important to us. If someone tried to put Aerosmith on at a party for example, woof. It didn’t end well. For that reason, my prejudices (and they are prejudices) hardened by my early 20s and I have really not really listened much at all to that whole genre, Aerosmith, Guns n Roses, Rush, Van Halen. When I have listened it’s been, meh, Zeppelin or x band or y band are better. @OB1 last choice of Rush made me listen with an open mind and I have to say I did enjoy some of their stuff and appreciated the musicianship. Hopefully it will be the same with this.

There was so much else I was expanding into in the MTV age. I absolutely hated the spandex rock coming out of America.
VH are the better end of that but still did nothing for me.
I do agree that DLR played the part tongue in cheek though.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Saved me a write up.
They’ve always been a band I felt I should be into. They have all the ingredients but somehow miss the spot with me.

I’ve done three listens though to be fair to them.
It got more tolerable each time but ultimately it’s a D minus from me.
They and Eddie in particular are technically great, but if I only had one word to try and describe why I don’t get them, it would be ‘Soulless’.
Sorry @OB1 .

You should still score though mate.

 

[PragueBlue]

Saved me a write up.
They’ve always been a band I felt I should be into. They have all the ingredients but somehow miss the spot with me.

I’ve done three listens though to be fair to them.
It got more tolerable each time but ultimately it’s a D minus from me.
They and Eddie in particular are technically great, but if I only had one word to try and describe why I don’t get them, it would be ‘Soulless’.
Sorry @OB1 .

What numerical score is D-?