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

[BlueHammer85]

How are these from Stockport and not California ?!

 

[journolud]

How are these from Stockport and not California ?!

Same as Foden is from Stockport and not Barcelona. It's a hotbed of talent.

 

[BimboBob]

I'll start by saying this is not their best offering but you have to start somewhere, right?

As an album I prefer Deceptive Bends and How Dare You! which are better written and have less of a teen America in the 50's vibe but that's not to say that I am not enjoying this album.

It starts off poorly, I have never liked Johnny Don't Do It, but then things pick up, although the do-wop style that I hate with the first song comes back in Donna. Then the brilliant Dean and I wipes out any memories of the start. I also love Speed Kills which is a nice prelude to the star of the album, Rubber Bullets. Fresh Air is another doozy, always liked that song, and it ends with Waterfall. A nice song to end.

An album I own, from a band I love, I have all their albums and listen to them quite regularly, should have a very high score. But there are songs I don't like and the whole album doesn't grab me. Still, they got much, much better later on.

6/10

 

[canyerdogputoutafire]

How are these from Stockport and not California ?!

Even in the 50's and 60's Tony Wilson was correct in claiming Mancunian kids had the best record collections.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I'll start by saying this is not their best offering but you have to start somewhere, right?

As an album I prefer Deceptive Bends and How Dare You! which are better written and have less of a teen America in the 50's vibe but that's not to say that I am not enjoying this album.

It starts off poorly, I have never liked Johnny Don't Do It, but then things pick up, although the do-wop style that I hate with the first song comes back in Donna. Then the brilliant Dean and I wipes out any memories of the start. I also love Speed Kills which is a nice prelude to the star of the album, Rubber Bullets. Fresh Air is another doozy, always liked that song, and it ends with Waterfall. A nice song to end.

An album I own, from a band I love, I have all their albums and listen to them quite regularly, should have a very high score. But there are songs I don't like and the whole album doesn't grab me. Still, they got much, much better later on.

6/10

Funny how different albums from the same band grab you. Their first three were by far my favourites and I would be hard pressed to choose between them. It would be boring if we all agreed which were best though :-)

 

[mancity1]

I'll start by saying this is not their best offering but you have to start somewhere, right?

As an album I prefer Deceptive Bends and How Dare You! which are better written and have less of a teen America in the 50's vibe but that's not to say that I am not enjoying this album.

It starts off poorly, I have never liked Johnny Don't Do It, but then things pick up, although the do-wop style that I hate with the first song comes back in Donna. Then the brilliant Dean and I wipes out any memories of the start. I also love Speed Kills which is a nice prelude to the star of the album, Rubber Bullets. Fresh Air is another doozy, always liked that song, and it ends with Waterfall. A nice song to end.

An album I own, from a band I love, I have all their albums and listen to them quite regularly, should have a very high score. But there are songs I don't like and the whole album doesn't grab me. Still, they got much, much better later on.

6/10

Deceptive Bends was I think their finest work despite no Godley and Creme.

I was hooked by the album cover alone and I liked what was inside as well.

its one of the few bands that I know that IMO peaked without half of their original line up but nevertheless in my top 20 UK bands of all time.

 

[Marklr]

How are these from Stockport and not California ?!

They're not actually from Stockport.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

I'll start by saying this is not their best offering but you have to start somewhere, right?

As an album I prefer Deceptive Bends and How Dare You! which are better written and have less of a teen America in the 50's vibe but that's not to say that I am not enjoying this album.

It starts off poorly, I have never liked Johnny Don't Do It, but then things pick up, although the do-wop style that I hate with the first song comes back in Donna. Then the brilliant Dean and I wipes out any memories of the start. I also love Speed Kills which is a nice prelude to the star of the album, Rubber Bullets. Fresh Air is another doozy, always liked that song, and it ends with Waterfall. A nice song to end.

An album I own, from a band I love, I have all their albums and listen to them quite regularly, should have a very high score. But there are songs I don't like and the whole album doesn't grab me. Still, they got much, much better later on.

6/10

What’s the world coming to.
One listen so far and I find myself agreeing with BimboBob.
I really feel like I should like this better, but I don’t. I got a bit bored listening to so many high pitched falsetto vocals in a row and I never was into that Doo Wop American thing, although I did know Donna and a few others.
The thing is I can take any of their songs on their own, but am finding a whole album like this too much.

Knew Dean and I and Rubber Bullets obviously, but agree also about Speed Kills. My ears pricked up at that one.

You said it yourself @Saddleworth2 some might find it lacking in grit. I’m leaning that way myself. It all sounds very West Coast America to me, which is ok in smaller doses.

I’ll listen again at a different hour and mood.

 

[Saddleworth2]

What’s the world coming to.
One listen so far and I find myself agreeing with BimboBob.
I really feel like I should like this better, but I don’t. I got a bit bored listening to so many high pitched falsetto vocals in a row and I never was into that Doo Wop American thing, although I did know Donna and a few others.
The thing is I can take any of their songs on their own, but am finding a whole album like this too much.

Knew Dean and I and Rubber Bullets obviously, but agree also about Speed Kills. My ears pricked up at that one.

You said it yourself @Saddleworth2 some might find it lacking in grit. I’m leaning that way myself. It all sounds very West Coast America to me, which is ok in smaller doses.

I’ll listen again at a different hour and mood.

You should like it better!

I like this album because they developed from it. Everything is there that I love about 10cc and culminated in 'The Original Soundtrack' which I think is their most developed album.
When all is said and done its just 40 minutes of joyful, upbeat, sly, well executed pop.
Grit? Its for the birds man ;-).

 

[BimboBob]

What’s the world coming to.
One listen so far and I find myself agreeing with BimboBob.
I really feel like I should like this better, but I don’t. I got a bit bored listening to so many high pitched falsetto vocals in a row and I never was into that Doo Wop American thing, although I did know Donna and a few others.
The thing is I can take any of their songs on their own, but am finding a whole album like this too much.

Knew Dean and I and Rubber Bullets obviously, but agree also about Speed Kills. My ears pricked up at that one.

You said it yourself @Saddleworth2 some might find it lacking in grit. I’m leaning that way myself. It all sounds very West Coast America to me, which is ok in smaller doses.

I’ll listen again at a different hour and mood.

Wash your mouth out, agreeing with me!