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

[Mancitydoogle]

I get that, problem is we’ve probably all got so many albums we’d like to nominate.

 

[Coatigan]

I get that, problem is we’ve probably all got so many albums we’d like to nominate.

I don't. A handful at best.

As albums anyway.

 

[Mancitydoogle]

Hmm I’ve been thinking for a few weeks now
of suggesting a companion thread, where we nominate a 5 song playlist
each week to run alongside the album choice.The pickers are in a different order than we currently have so we’re not listening to the same persons album choice and playlist in the same week.

As everyone knows I love this thread and wouldn’t want distract from it in anyway but I feel we all have lots of individual songs that we love and many from artists others may have not heard of.
I think it maybe a good way of introducing us all to songs we hold dearly that appear on albums that we feel aren’t strong enough.



Let me know your thoughts pop pickers?

 

[OB1]

Anyone else tend to listen to their own nomination 3 times in that week with everyone else? Or that it just me?

No: l listen to my nomination way more than that when preparing my review.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Like Rob, I have listened to this more than any other. Can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe because it has a different impact on you dependent on the mood you are in and for sure, I enjoyed it more some times than others. It is also difficult to separate the tragic back story whilst listening to the music and particularly understanding the lyrics so for me it has a desperately sad feel to it. Scott Hutchison put his inner feelings and emotions up for public scrutiny and from what I have read he still has an enormously dedicated and loving fan base who he touched deeply.
So for me, this album is about the strength of the songs and the lyrics. I didn't find it overproduced, again from what I read this was a departure from their normal sound and featured a great deal more electronics and synth drums. Frankly, I didn't care much. Having watched them live and acoustic versions of some of the songs on here, the songs stand up strongly however they are played. I can understand why Scott helped folks mental health by sharing what was going on with his own in a candid and powerful way. There is some talk that the remaining members of Frightened Rabbit will release songs that they and Scott worked on before he died. Their ongoing charity work has been very impressive.

The album did 'get to me' more than any other pick so far and I cant really say why. Maybe it touches something fundamentally Scottish, maybe I'm a little melancholic at the moment. Whatever. Thanks @Coatigan for this choice. I will listen to it again and will also explore the back catalogue. I will also have to admit to my daughter that she was right about them (I have a healthy competition about musical tastes with my three kids).

Scoring it is difficult. Its not a ten because I an still unsure how long I will enjoy listening to it for. I found a couple of tracks were weaker than others and the overall music can be a little 'samey'. Its a record for reflection and wouldn't win many prizes at a party. I give it 7 + another point for being such a good pick and them being Scottish.
8/10

 

[RobMCFC]

Hmm I’ve been thinking for a few weeks now
of suggesting a companion thread, where we nominate a 5 song playlist
each week to run alongside the album choice.The pickers are in a different order than we currently have so we’re not listening to the same persons album choice and playlist in the same week.

As everyone knows I love this thread and wouldn’t want distract from it in anyway but I feel we all have lots of individual songs that we love and many from artists others may have not heard of.
I think it maybe a good way of introducing us all to songs we hold dearly that appear on albums that we feel aren’t strong enough.



Let me know your thoughts pop pickers?

I also had thoughts along the same lines a while ago, and for the same reasons that you point out: that we all like tracks off albums that aren't otherwise so strong.

5 songs is a sensible number - half an album.

Should they have some kind of theme that bonds them? Whether it's the theme of the lyrics, the year they were released, or something as tenuous as each title contains a day of the week etc.

I'm happy to see what others think and discuss further as appropriate ..... but don't forget to review and scores this week's album :)

 

[Coatigan]

Hmm I’ve been thinking for a few weeks now
of suggesting a companion thread, where we nominate a 5 song playlist
each week to run alongside the album choice.The pickers are in a different order than we currently have so we’re not listening to the same persons album choice and playlist in the same week.

As everyone knows I love this thread and wouldn’t want distract from it in anyway but I feel we all have lots of individual songs that we love and many from artists others may have not heard of.
I think it maybe a good way of introducing us all to songs we hold dearly that appear on albums that we feel aren’t strong enough.



Let me know your thoughts pop pickers?

Thinking would there be any grouping of the songs, i.e artist genre decade etc? or anything goes?

 

[Saddleworth2]

Hmm I’ve been thinking for a few weeks now
of suggesting a companion thread, where we nominate a 5 song playlist
each week to run alongside the album choice.The pickers are in a different order than we currently have so we’re not listening to the same persons album choice and playlist in the same week.

As everyone knows I love this thread and wouldn’t want distract from it in anyway but I feel we all have lots of individual songs that we love and many from artists others may have not heard of.
I think it maybe a good way of introducing us all to songs we hold dearly that appear on albums that we feel aren’t strong enough.



Let me know your thoughts pop pickers?

Something similar had crossed my mind. Why 5 though and not say 8 to make a whole album of music?

 

[Mancitydoogle]

I was originally thinking of making it thempathic,whether it be genre ,artist etc or being linked by having something in the song title or content.But personally I think that makes it a bit like some other threads we’ve had recently and restrictive.
I think anything goes but maybe a write up from the nominator as to why this batch of songs was chosen.

 

[Mancitydoogle]

Thematic ! damn predictive text!