The Album Review Club - Week #197 (page 1330) - Levelling the Land - Levellers

Saddleworth2 said:
Really good review mate. Party music - (4am when everyone is unconscious or sat cross leg having very deep discussions). Thats how I will always think of Leonard.
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Party music?
If it’s 4a.m. and you want people to go home, perhaps.
We had The Best of LC which was before this album.
I think it’s telling that not one song on this album though, is on The Essential LC which came out after it.

I’ll do the customary 3 listens but I fear this is going to be under duress. Really not liking the Phil Spector treatment.
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Party music?
If it’s 4a.m. and you want people to go home, perhaps.
We had The Best of LC which was before this album.
I think it’s telling that not one song on this album though, is on The Essential LC which came out after it.

I’ll do the customary 3 listens but I fear this is going to be under duress. Really not liking the Phil Spector treatment.
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When I was young its how I was introduced to LC. 4am. On goes Bird on a wire.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
When I was young its how I was introduced to LC. 4am. On goes Bird on a wire.
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Songs from LC. 1967. Has really good stuff on it……. If you are in the mood….
I don’t know what mood I’ll need to be in to take to this though.
OB1 gave a point for the Spector production. I’m the opposite so far. I really don’t like the treatment it got.
 
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mancity2012_eamo said:
Songs from LC. 1967. Has really good stuff on it……. If you are in the mood….
I don’t know what mood I’ll need to be in to take to this though.
OB1 gave a point for the Spector production. I’m the opposite so far. I really don’t like the treatment it got.
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I haven't listened to it yet mate. Not a good week in the Sads household, based on some of his stuff it might tip me over the edge ;-)
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Songs from LC. 1967. Has really good stuff on it……. If you are in the mood….
I don’t know what mood I’ll need to be in to take to this though.
OB1 gave a point for the Spector production. I’m the opposite so far. I really don’t like the treatment it got.
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Totally agree on the production point. LC's voice is far from the worst thing about this album.
 
Given it one listen and like it very much so far. Couple of ropey tracks but maybe they'll grow on me over the week.
 
Never been a fan of his unless his songs were done by other artists.
I'm your fan was a great cd years ago of covers by REM,Nick Cave and Ian McCulloch,others as well.
This LP does nothing to change my opinion of him.
Production,songs and I have never been keen on his voice.
For playing this at a party you must have wanted everybody to leave.
2/10 for the second week in a row.
 
Being a fan of LC I bought this album when it came out. I think you either love him or hate him. (his album ..Songs Of Love & Hate).
I'm a lover of poetry and LC and Jim Morrison for me were primarily poets who could also write a catchy melody. To me they are both true poets.
LC was very popular during the late 60's and early 70's. He was very good in certain situations, back to someone's flat late at night, put on some LC. We discussed his lyrics and the depth they seemed to portray, even sometimes comedic.

The walls of this hotel are paper-thin
Last night I heard you making love to him
The struggle mouth to mouth and limb to limb
The grunt of unity when he came in
I stood there with my ear against the wall
I was not seized by jealousy at all

These days that could be a review on trip advisor :)
I love this as I do all his albums. It brings back a time in my life when things were very simple, you and your mates, work. All the time aching for that special girl, the one who would be a soul mate and lover but would surely end the simplicity and freedom of the family home.

Marriage, kids, mortgage awaits.

9/10
 
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Was expecting downbeat slow album since my last review of songs of love and hate.
this is quite the opposite. Enjoying it.
 
My least played album of his. Could never get it and feel that it lets him down. His earlier songs are subtle, sensitive, philosophical, poetic moving and/or sexy. "Don't go home with your hard on" ? Really ?
 
Had it on in the background today rather than paying studious attention to it and it was all the better for it.
I feel the Spector treatment probably is an advantage in this mode, although I can’t really say that any song stands out. It all seems a homogeneous bland mess where the point he’s making seems lost.
There are a few different genres thrown in but I’m not sure the album is the better for them.
Fingerprints is country and western.
Hard On….. ???? Zappa is better LC….. Leave it alone.
Memories sounds like ‘It’ll be lonely this Christmas’, by Mud.

As I said I liked it better in the background, but yet to be convinced of any real merit.
 
Death of a Ladies’ Man – Leonard Cohen

My utmost respect to anybody who can listen to this more than once. This is anti-music.
  • The “music” is flat and dull, without any attempt at dynamics or anything interesting.
  • The production is awful – see above
  • The singing is OK in parts, but the horrible “let’s get 30 people all singing at once” approach is a mess.
  • Worst of all is the lyrics – My God, they are truly awful, embarrassing and in parts misogynistic.
The only positive I can find is that there is a slight uplift in tempo for the last three tracks, but again, the song are nothing to write home about. That this is from an artist capable of songs as good as “Hallelujah”, “First We Take Manhattan” and “You Want It Darker” is a bit of a mystery.

Sorry @denislawsbackheel, there is not one single element in this that I can feel positive about. I actually preferred your previous selection, The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter – I never thought I’d say that, but this album has shown me how truly terrible music can be. 2/10.
 
Bill Walker said:
Hahaha, the only anti music I've heard is rap.
This album has melody and lyrics, it's music.
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Well I didn't hear any melody and I wish I hadn't heard the lyrics.

For a musician like you, Bill, who is not too slow to remind us when something's not too musical, I'm astounded at your vote for this one. But each to their own.
 
RobMCFC said:
Death of a Ladies’ Man – Leonard Cohen

My utmost respect to anybody who can listen to this more than once. This is anti-music.
  • The “music” is flat and dull, without any attempt at dynamics or anything interesting.
  • The production is awful – see above
  • The singing is OK in parts, but the horrible “let’s get 30 people all singing at once” approach is a mess.
  • Worst of all is the lyrics – My God, they are truly awful, embarrassing and in parts misogynistic.
The only positive I can find is that there is a slight uplift in tempo for the last three tracks, but again, the song are nothing to write home about. That this is from an artist capable of songs as good as “Hallelujah”, “First We Take Manhattan” and “You Want It Darker” is a bit of a mystery.

Sorry @denislawsbackheel, there is not one single element in this that I can feel positive about. I actually preferred your previous selection, The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter – I never thought I’d say that, but this album has shown me how truly terrible music can be. 2/10.
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You are describing everything Phil Spector did!
 
denislawsbackheel said:
You are describing everything Phil Spector did!
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You know what, I know the name more than anything he actually did. A load of 60s Soul IIRC? Anyway, he must have had an off day/week/month when he did this. But to be fair, with the material he was given, who can blame him?
 
It’s interesting how tastes differ.
F’rinstance some of the albums on here, Zeppelin, Kiss, Genesis, Gallagher I wouldn’t have in the house. They are the antithesis of music to me.
 
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