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

BlueHammer85 said:
I’ve always thought Creep was overated - same for Nirvana Teen Spirit - both loud catchy choruses to cover what are average songs

Karma Police video, good shout! One of the best that and Street Spirit is a criminally underrated video/song
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Nevermind is one of the most important records ever made and SLTS is a great song. And not the best song on the record even.

IMO.

Though this is also factually true :)
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
Ha, naturally In Rainbows is the one record of theirs I like okay!

I’m prepared to argue Radiohead are Pink Floyd after incorporating all the worst traits of U2 musically, and while a lot of my complaints about Thom Yorke are very much tongue in cheek, I hear real angst in Kurt Cobain (and Scott Hutchinson as I noted) whereas I think Yorke sells angst.

They did however do a credible cover of “Ceremony”, though even that was a touch pretentious :)

In the end it really just comes down to me thinking they’re significantly overrated more than truly bad. Reading the tea leaves here, I think I feel about them as many here feel about Coldplay.
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Radiohead pretentious.lol
I just have to see that Yorke shaking his head while signing and i go into a rage.lol
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
It’s Gen X’s version of “Dark Side of the Moon.” Only far more grating, more fake, fewer hooks and less intellectually stimulating.
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FogBlueInSanFran said:
I will save my thoughts on this record for when someone has the balls to nominate it.

However, I will ask those who believe it has something important to say about the dangers of consumerism to ask themselves why Thom Yorke isn’t angry about it like The Clash, The Jam and Gang of Four were when they tread on this very, very well-worn topic.

Here’s a hint: Thom Yorke is richer than you.
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No idea why this has turned into a Radioheid thread, but may I be the one to suggest we at some point fairly go back to the album at hand?

Sounds like your problem with it is more what it is not, and what you want it to be, then what it is. It is a bit of that same elitism I have spoke about before. Ooh, it borrows from a previous generation, must be bad then, oh doesnt do it as well as they did, must be shite.


I confess however, I have never listened to a Radiohead album. They are like the Smiths for me, but even more so because they came at the right time for my age. I.e a band that I absolutely Should love on paper, has everything I really should be into. And it is not that I Don't like them, in fact what I have heard (the hits) I was fine with. But for some inexplicable reason, not drawn into it, and because I missed the boat at the time, never went back. A current such band is The Twilight Dad, Should be one I like, just can't get into.


This discussion has made me want to try a radiohead album, but we have an album at hand that deserves my time and is fairly at its turn, so I'll focus on that now.



Edit. the above is Twilight Sad, not Dad. It was a typo, but seeing it back made me giggle and reminded me of that one letter out thread, so I left it in.

further edit, reading more of your posts Fog, I kind of get what you are saying. Your issue with radiohead is pretty much my own issue with what if we said they are pretenders, Foo Fighters, I recognise it well. So I'm not one to pass judgement.
 
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GoatersLeftShin said:
I love Ok Computer and would have it as one of my all time favourite albums, easily!

I think there are a few reasons why it's so highly regarded. Firstly, it's because in the 90s there wasn't anything else that really sounded like it. While Blur, Oasis and a lot of Britpop bands looked backwards, Ok Computer sounded futuristic. It's 25 years old now, but I don't think it sounds it. The songs also sound beautiful and you have this strange position of the 'computer sounding' parts of the album with this soaring voice over the top - Airbag is the best example. Every sound on the album, the structure of the songs and the way it tells the story is superb in my opinion. I'd say that every song on the album is superb, there's no weak tracks on it. I personally think it's the best album from the 90s.

It's also a concept album that tells us what life is going to become in the 90s and onwards. It is warning us about what the future holds if we're not careful. It's going to be battling with technology - who hasn't had that problem of a poor call centre employee battling a computer system? We look for solutions to problems with technology - airbags, computers etc. However, are computers really all "good"? Maybe not if they harvest your personal data, monitor where you are and what your lifestyle is. Are we not now starting to have issues about what computers and AI will mean for us? Facebook is probably a perfect example of something that at first was a 'good thing', but is now spreading disinformation and the impacts of that.

It also warns that that lifestyle of being "fitter, healthier and more productive" isn't going to make you happy. It gives you the illusion of being happy, risk averse with consumer goods and technology making you comfortable. However, ultimately, it's boring and too safe - joyless. It is going to control you and kind of warns of the consumer and corporate culture that we live in today isn't what it appears. When you read the lyrics to "Fitter Happier", you realise that they are describing many peoples lives today.

The lyric from the opening track - "an airbag saved my life" - points towards that idea that maybe we can drive - and live - how we want with no consideration for others. In the lyrics, he doesn't mention anyone else in the crash, it's all "I". Maybe we can drive too fast and act selfishly knowing that the safety of the airbag means WE are safe, but what about the others who were in the crash? Did they have an airbag? It wasn't long after that the trend for larger cars, with more airbags in them, started. If you had the big car and the airbags, you were safe and if you crash YOU are ok. The 'computer' keeps you safe and maybe detaches yourself from other road users.

I could go on, but that's my take on it! The album is about the drudgery of modern living and - in my opinion - was ahead of it's time. It will be interesting to see how it ages though, but I definitely see this as a concept album that stands up alongside the likes of "What's Goin on", "Dark side of the moon" etc.
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Thank you GLS for your considered answer, I'm sorry if I inadvertently helped derail the thread but if it does get nominated by someone I look forward to discussing it.

Back on topic i'm on 3rd full listen of Mr Ackles and normally by now I'm formulating a score plus or minus one but I can't really decide what to do with this one.
 
This album is like stepping back in time. Once that is accepted, its quality comes through. There are some good arrangements, clearly good musical passages, and some good storytelling.

It is also a lot going on, and that is hard to follow. It is almost a prime example of when people say somethig is relentless in one mood or another that a break would be welcome, that that isn't always the case. I'd quite happily listen to a whole album of Love's enough, One Night Stand, Another Friday, Moving Van etc, and skip out the 'cabaret'. And I'd love it. I probably also would get into the rest if it wasn't intermittent.

Maybe its biggest issue isn't the songs or the style, it is the order of the songs. Similar to what I said about the queen is dead, I think grouping songs of a certain mood would let me ease into a spell of one or the other, rather than jumping from one pace to the next and back.


There are some really good songs on it, his voice has a certain quality I quite like, and the slower parts of it are really pleasant. The more upbeat ones are harder for me to take in. But surprisingly easy to work to. Blues for Billy had me wobbling my head in rhythm. Maybe they need more time, or focus.
 
Good interesting choice that is sadly not my scene.
Eventually got used to the voice after not really caring for it first listen.
Musically not my scene.
Favourite track was Black Sheep Boy by Tim Hardin that appeared after I played the whole record.
4/10 good pick but not for me.
 
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