The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

[OB1]

The live album I think has aged the best, and is a fantastic body of work, is Strangers in the Night. UFO really were a fantastic band. But for criminal mismanagement and a collective dysfunctionality, akin to shooting themselves in both feet on a regular basis, they should've been huge.

I have the “Strangers” box set, very indulgent but good to have. It is one of the best double lives and another example of a band’s best album being a live one.

 

[bennyboy]

Posted before but once again i was at Donnington when AC/DC were the headliners.
Blackfoot,Whitesnake and Slade all in my opinion were better live that day than AC/DC.
Noddy Holder and David Coverdale had the crowed in the palm of their hands.Front men brilliance.
My favourite live albums Live and Dangerous and Life Thin Lizzy and Live in the Heart of the City.
Whitesnake.
Loved both bands but their live albums always sounded better than the studio albums.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

“Live & Dangerous” is not my favourite live album but, in some quarters, it is thought of as the greatest double live album. I like it a lot of course and it is one of the very best; it is also the best thing Lizzy ever released.

I don’t know that it is truly possible to pick a greatest anything in music because, ultimately, it is subjective and a matter of taste. I also think it is nigh on impossible to rank albums or songs as favourite, second favourite etc. I do have a favourite (studio) album but any ranking after that is a construction. These things for me are mostly a bit of fun and not to be taken too seriously; although I objected hugely to Rolling Stone last pick of a greatest album.

I do at times try to distinguish between what I think is the greatest and what is my favourite.

In this case, I think “Made in Japan” is the greatest double live album. The first time I heard it, I was astonished and it never ceases to impress me. The recent box set I bought includes a DVD with various versions on it, including some Steven Wilson surround sound mixes, which are a joy.

My favourite live album? Not sure, MIJ is right up there but so are “KISS Alive!” and Rush’s “All The World’s a Stage” both of which I wanted to review but went for studio albums because they are both greatest hits type releases and very different animals to MIJ. They are however my favourite albums by the two bands I have see live most frequently.

What do you think about Rush returning to the stage? I was shocked. I thought the biggest issue was Alex suffering from arthritis or whatever (beyond Neil passing away). I don’t know anything about Anika Niles, the drummer who is going to tour with them (plus, apparently, others), but I probably have to go. I saw them a few times forty-plus years ago and haven’t even bothered with anything after Power Windows but this is nearly Oasis reunion-like for a lot of folks.

 

[OB1]

What do you think about Rush returning to the stage? I was shocked. I thought the biggest issue was Alex suffering from arthritis or whatever (beyond Neil passing away). I don’t know anything about Anika Niles, the drummer who is going to tour with them (plus, apparently, others), but I probably have to go. I saw them a few times forty-plus years ago and haven’t even bothered with anything after Power Windows but this is nearly Oasis reunion-like for a lot of folks.

Quite emotional about it but it is only a limited number of venues in the US; although they have already doubled the amount of dates at all the venues bar Mexico and tickets are not even on sale, so the sign-ups for presale must have been huge. I signed-up but chances of getting tickets and flying to NY are not great.

Saw Geddy on his book tour in London (Alex made a “surprise” guest appearance) and he said he regretted not bring R40 tour over to us, so we are hopeful.

I have not checked the drummer out yet but my best man, who is a drummer, has looked at a YouTube vid and was impressed. Hardly a surprise that they would choose someone talented.

I am not surprised by the apparent demand. I have the impression that Rush are one of those bands who have continued to grow in popularity and standing, plus they have a fiercely loyal core support. Still the only band I can think of that booked a UK tour without having an official release in the country and and had to double it in size due to demand. I hope the initial response to the American shows inspires them to extend the tour to UK / Europe rather than waiting until they have played the first batch of shows. Managing them so as not to over strain Geddy’s voice will be the key.

 

[mrbelfry]

I've spoken in the past about the credibility gap that exists between this kind of music and myself. Made in Japan by Deep Purple doesn't quite manage to bridge that gap but it had moments here and there that I found quite enjoyable. I live in a post Waynes World and although that was a kind hearted look at these kind of tunes it was still one that discouraged me from taking this kind of thing seriously.

The excessive solo's, yelping and wailing etc will always sound ridiculous to me and whilst I would like to say it's not them it's me I also sometimes think it is them. Highway Star is a case where the band are just doing themselves no favours if they wanted to convince me to take them seriously. "Nobody gonna take my car, it's a killing machine, it's got everything, big fat tires, everything" - it's nursery time at the school of rock.

Child in Time and The Mule demonstrate what I dislike about the breaks midway through the songs for a bit of showing off. We take detours from the songs into wild soloing and polite clapping from the audience only to end up right back where we diverted from. There is no progression or journey and it reminded me of the times I'd go shopping with my mum; she would always meet a friend and spend hours talking in the freezer aisles. No matter how long i wondered the shop by myself dreaming about soda streams I'd always end up back by the peas with my mums trolley no fuller and no closer to getting home.

In the case of The Mule this is particularly egregious. I quite enjoy the psychedelic opening and how the song breaks down in the drum solo but then we have to wait and hang around until the drummer tires himself out. There are times when it feels like we are about to break into something new and give a purpose to the solo but I'm left pulling my mums arm and pouting desperate to move to the crisp section. He gives himself two opportunities - firstly when he starts hitting singles on the kick drum and then a few seconds later when he starts a tom groove. Both times we stubbornly refuse to go anywhere new except for a few bars when the organ gets pretty jaunty like a kids tv show. Then we return to the psychedelia which is fine I guess.

Having said that other than Child In Time the other album lowlight was Smoke in the Water which dials back on the diversions and my favourite track is probably Lazy which feels like all diversion. But the moments of these I enjoy are not "rocking". I enjoy Lazy being post punk even before Punk was invented with it's noisy distorted organ and when it resolves to a cleaner sound, via a snippet of Louis Louis, that's pretty nice. Other moments of fun include the vocals and guitar duelling on Strange Kind of Woman - but it's fun in the same kind of way the Darkness were fun and ultimately pretty cheesy. I suspect my interpretation of this as being cheesy is a result of me being born a generation or two after the fans of this album.

I think OB1 mentioned in his original view that many of the songs here are better than the recorded versions. I think this is true with at least Space Truckers which is the only one I bothered to compare. It's easy to hear how this album is rated so highly by the fans as I think this album feels and sounds great. It is fizzing with energy and great performances but at it's best to me when it's a bit cheesy as opposed to when it's rocking which is probably not the intended effect. It's a high 6 right now because there was a lot i enjoyed. If I'd listened to this for a decade and knew it inside out then I may appreciate it much more but I've not even managed to last the week. Good nomination

 

[GornikDaze]

I think OB1 mentioned in his original view that many of the songs here are better than the recorded versions. I think this is true with at least Space Truckers which is the only one I bothered to compare. It's easy to hear how this album is rated so highly by the fans as I think this album feels and sounds great. It is fizzing with energy and great performances but at it's best to me when it's a bit cheesy as opposed to when it's rocking which is probably not the intended effect. It's a high 6 right now because there was a lot i enjoyed. If I'd listened to this for a decade and knew it inside out then I may appreciate it much more but I've not even managed to last the week. Good nomination

Thanks for making me feel rather old… my quick mental maths has me listening to this for nearly 40 years haha

 

[threespires]

I've spoken in the past about the credibility gap that exists between this kind of music and myself. Made in Japan by Deep Purple doesn't quite manage to bridge that gap but it had moments here and there that I found quite enjoyable. I live in a post Waynes World and although that was a kind hearted look at these kind of tunes it was still one that discouraged me from taking this kind of thing seriously.

The excessive solo's, yelping and wailing etc will always sound ridiculous to me and whilst I would like to say it's not them it's me I also sometimes think it is them. Highway Star is a case where the band are just doing themselves no favours if they wanted to convince me to take them seriously. "Nobody gonna take my car, it's a killing machine, it's got everything, big fat tires, everything" - it's nursery time at the school of rock.

Child in Time and The Mule demonstrate what I dislike about the breaks midway through the songs for a bit of showing off. We take detours from the songs into wild soloing and polite clapping from the audience only to end up right back where we diverted from. There is no progression or journey and it reminded me of the times I'd go shopping with my mum; she would always meet a friend and spend hours talking in the freezer aisles. No matter how long i wondered the shop by myself dreaming about soda streams I'd always end up back by the peas with my mums trolley no fuller and no closer to getting home.

In the case of The Mule this is particularly egregious. I quite enjoy the psychedelic opening and how the song breaks down in the drum solo but then we have to wait and hang around until the drummer tires himself out. There are times when it feels like we are about to break into something new and give a purpose to the solo but I'm left pulling my mums arm and pouting desperate to move to the crisp section. He gives himself two opportunities - firstly when he starts hitting singles on the kick drum and then a few seconds later when he starts a tom groove. Both times we stubbornly refuse to go anywhere new except for a few bars when the organ gets pretty jaunty like a kids tv show. Then we return to the psychedelia which is fine I guess.

Having said that other than Child In Time the other album lowlight was Smoke in the Water which dials back on the diversions and my favourite track is probably Lazy which feels like all diversion. But the moments of these I enjoy are not "rocking". I enjoy Lazy being post punk even before Punk was invented with it's noisy distorted organ and when it resolves to a cleaner sound, via a snippet of Louis Louis, that's pretty nice. Other moments of fun include the vocals and guitar duelling on Strange Kind of Woman - but it's fun in the same kind of way the Darkness were fun and ultimately pretty cheesy. I suspect my interpretation of this as being cheesy is a result of me being born a generation or two after the fans of this album.

I think OB1 mentioned in his original view that many of the songs here are better than the recorded versions. I think this is true with at least Space Truckers which is the only one I bothered to compare. It's easy to hear how this album is rated so highly by the fans as I think this album feels and sounds great. It is fizzing with energy and great performances but at it's best to me when it's a bit cheesy as opposed to when it's rocking which is probably not the intended effect. It's a high 6 right now because there was a lot i enjoyed. If I'd listened to this for a decade and knew it inside out then I may appreciate it much more but I've not even managed to last the week. Good nomination

The greatest benefit of you not living through it was you didn't have to smell it.

Gornik mentioned patchouli oil a bit earlier and on the evolution thread OOB6 posted a pick of Robert Lindsay in an Afghan coat. Between them they've triggered traumatic memories and olfactory flashbacks that I might have to sue them for.

 

[mrbelfry]

Thanks for making me feel rather old… my quick mental maths has me listening to this for nearly 40 years haha

Surprised you've not gone deaf by now! You have a chance to prove my theory - do you consider the cheesy bits I mentioned to be cheesy? When I hear this type of music I think about is the compilation cds you would get in service stations - "Jeremy Clarkson's Best Driving Songs". I find it really cheesy in a way that I don't think Hendrix or the Beatles are but in a way that Black Sabbath or Bon Jovi is so I'm not sure it can be put down to simply how old it is.

I think I can definitely attribute some of my dislike of it being based on my age and music that was a reaction and counter point to this kind of stuff.

 

[mrbelfry]

The greatest benefit of you not living through it was you didn't have to smell it.

Gornik mentioned patchouli oil a bit earlier and on the evolution thread OOB6 posted a pick of Robert Lindsay in an Afghan coat. Between them they've triggered traumatic memories and olfactory flashbacks that I might have to sue them for.

My generation had to smell Pete Docherty

 

[RobMCFC]

I've spoken in the past about the credibility gap that exists between this kind of music and myself. Made in Japan by Deep Purple doesn't quite manage to bridge that gap but it had moments here and there that I found quite enjoyable. I live in a post Waynes World and although that was a kind hearted look at these kind of tunes it was still one that discouraged me from taking this kind of thing seriously.

The excessive solo's, yelping and wailing etc will always sound ridiculous to me and whilst I would like to say it's not them it's me I also sometimes think it is them. Highway Star is a case where the band are just doing themselves no favours if they wanted to convince me to take them seriously. "Nobody gonna take my car, it's a killing machine, it's got everything, big fat tires, everything" - it's nursery time at the school of rock.

Child in Time and The Mule demonstrate what I dislike about the breaks midway through the songs for a bit of showing off. We take detours from the songs into wild soloing and polite clapping from the audience only to end up right back where we diverted from. There is no progression or journey and it reminded me of the times I'd go shopping with my mum; she would always meet a friend and spend hours talking in the freezer aisles. No matter how long i wondered the shop by myself dreaming about soda streams I'd always end up back by the peas with my mums trolley no fuller and no closer to getting home.

In the case of The Mule this is particularly egregious. I quite enjoy the psychedelic opening and how the song breaks down in the drum solo but then we have to wait and hang around until the drummer tires himself out. There are times when it feels like we are about to break into something new and give a purpose to the solo but I'm left pulling my mums arm and pouting desperate to move to the crisp section. He gives himself two opportunities - firstly when he starts hitting singles on the kick drum and then a few seconds later when he starts a tom groove. Both times we stubbornly refuse to go anywhere new except for a few bars when the organ gets pretty jaunty like a kids tv show. Then we return to the psychedelia which is fine I guess.

Having said that other than Child In Time the other album lowlight was Smoke in the Water which dials back on the diversions and my favourite track is probably Lazy which feels like all diversion. But the moments of these I enjoy are not "rocking". I enjoy Lazy being post punk even before Punk was invented with it's noisy distorted organ and when it resolves to a cleaner sound, via a snippet of Louis Louis, that's pretty nice. Other moments of fun include the vocals and guitar duelling on Strange Kind of Woman - but it's fun in the same kind of way the Darkness were fun and ultimately pretty cheesy. I suspect my interpretation of this as being cheesy is a result of me being born a generation or two after the fans of this album.

I think OB1 mentioned in his original view that many of the songs here are better than the recorded versions. I think this is true with at least Space Truckers which is the only one I bothered to compare. It's easy to hear how this album is rated so highly by the fans as I think this album feels and sounds great. It is fizzing with energy and great performances but at it's best to me when it's a bit cheesy as opposed to when it's rocking which is probably not the intended effect. It's a high 6 right now because there was a lot i enjoyed. If I'd listened to this for a decade and knew it inside out then I may appreciate it much more but I've not even managed to last the week. Good nomination

Very entertaining once again. The observation about your Mum and the freezer aisle was very astute - not that I know your Mum or ever went shopping with her, but you conveyed the feeling of pointless soloing very nicely.

 

[GornikDaze]

Surprised you've not gone deaf by now! You have a chance to prove my theory - do you consider the cheesy bits I mentioned to be cheesy? When I hear this type of music I think about is the compilation cds you would get in service stations - "Jeremy Clarkson's Best Driving Songs". I find it really cheesy in a way that I don't think Hendrix or the Beatles are but in a way that Black Sabbath or Bon Jovi is so I'm not sure it can be put down to simply how old it is.

I think I can definitely attribute some of my dislike of it being based on my age and music that was a reaction and counter point to this kind of stuff.

Personal view, but for me it’s not cheesy at all. Maybe, if I’m being critical, it can at times get a bit self indulgent. Self indulgence however, is tolerable when you have ability to play an instrument or hold a note. Live performances need to be entertaining first and foremost. I was more a fan of a 10 minute guitar solo than a drum or keyboard equivalent, provided that the ability was apparent. I saw Greta Van Fleet on their last tour, and their overuse of guitar solos was awful.

MiJ was probably of its time, and isn’t really representative of what came later - punk and indie stuff generally being shorter and more impactful. It is as we always say on here a matter of personal taste, going back to particular moment and recreating what has given you enjoyment.

I’ve changed my next nomination to a ‘classic’ because it’s my brothers 70th birthday on the day of my pick. As one of my main musical influencers growing up (and yes, he did play MiJ relentlessly) I thought it might be nice to pay him a bit of a tribute. As Rob has said many times the essence of the thread is to choose something that has meaning.

Anyway, enough waffling - it’s not cheesy for me, but then again neither are Sabbath or The Darkness (the latter being more in the entertainer camp).

 

[mrbelfry]

Personal view, but for me it’s not cheesy at all. Maybe, if I’m being critical, it can at times get a bit self indulgent. Self indulgence however, is tolerable when you have ability to play an instrument or hold a note. Live performances need to be entertaining first and foremost. I was more a fan of a 10 minute guitar solo than a drum or keyboard equivalent, provided that the ability was apparent. I saw Greta Van Fleet on their last tour, and their overuse of guitar solos was awful.

MiJ was probably of its time, and isn’t really representative of what came later - punk and indie stuff generally being shorter and more impactful. It is as we always say on here a matter of personal taste, going back to particular moment and recreating what has given you enjoyment.

I’ve changed my next nomination to a ‘classic’ because it’s my brothers 70th birthday on the day of my pick. As one of my main musical influencers growing up (and yes, he did play MiJ relentlessly) I thought it might be nice to pay him a bit of a tribute. As Rob has said many times the essence of the thread is to choose something that has meaning.

Anyway, enough waffling - it’s not cheesy for me, but then again neither are Sabbath or The Darkness (the latter being more in the entertainer camp).

Yeah I think you've proven my point. We are filtering the songs through different landscapes and musical exposure

 

[OB1]

Very entertaining once again. The observation about your Mum and the freezer aisle was very astute - not that I know your Mum or ever went shopping with her, but you conveyed the feeling of pointless soloing very nicely.

You could almost describe all solos as pointless, and some bands think they are clever not doing them, those bands often bore the shit out of me.

 

[chesterbells]

Naturally, I attended the Knebworth gig. I was also at the NEC one that was released as a live album. That was quite amusing because the band started the gig without Blackmore, who was hacked off that it was being filmed, and when he did eventually appear during Highway Star, he turned into an axe wielding maniac and chased a cameraman off stage.

Perfect Stranges was a live highlight because apart from being an awesome track, the stage presentation made great use of lasers.

Was the NEC one on the House of Blue Light tour March 87? (I think Knebworth was the only UK date on the PS tour). If so, I was there too, though they did 2 dates and I don’t remember the absence of Blackmore. I do recall being on the front block B on the floor and when they came on seeing the crowd surge to the right hand side as you looked at the stage. Everyone ignoring Gillan centre and Lord/Glover left. Never seen anything like it before or since. There was only one star of that show.

 

[RobMCFC]

You could almost describe all solos as pointless, and some bands think they are clever not doing them, those bands often bore the shit out of me.

Of course. Anything is pointless when you boil it down. I do love a good solo but prefer guitar or keyboard - that drum solo on "The Mule" was a challenging listen for me.

 

[OB1]

Was the NEC one on the House of Blue Light tour March 87? (I think Knebworth was the only UK date on the PS tour). If so, I was there too, though they did 2 dates and I don’t remember the absence of Blackmore. I do recall being on the front block B on the floor and when they came on seeing the crowd surge to the right hand side as you looked at the stage. Everyone ignoring Gillan centre and Lord/Glover left. Never seen anything like it before or since. There was only one star of that show.

It was Nov 1993 I think. I don’t have an ‘87 gig on my list, which is odd: I can’t believe I would have missed a Purple tour at that time. And it turns out I did see Purple at the NEC on Saturday 7 March 1987 - I have the ticket but missed recording it on setlist.fm; until now.

 

[chesterbells]

It was Nov 1993 I think. I don’t have an ‘87 gig on my list, which is odd: I can’t believe I would have missed a Purple tour at that time. And it turns out I did see Purple at the NEC on Saturday 7 March 1987 - I have the ticket but missed recording it on setlist.fm; until now.

Yep, twas the Saturday night I was at too. HoBL felt a bit underwhelming when I first heard it, but it’s really grown on me over time.

 

[bennyboy]

Struggling with the length of the songs.All the songs are good enough but seem to go on and on.
Reminds me of Neil Young who has the habit of being the same live sometimes.
Would have preferred 7 shorten versions and 3 other songs than the 7 on this.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

I’m not concerned over points, especially as I expect some low scores e.g. some will thin the tracks are self-indulgently long, or people making horrid noises with their instruments, it’s got a drum solo

This is is long, at times self-indulgent, full of horrid noises, and touches at times on prog. It's also a live album which I generally don't like - despite nominating Jerry Lee Lewis's Live At The Star Club myself.

All that said, I love Deep Purple and despite this being a live album it feels like you're on the front row. Highway Star is a masterpiece and you can, as you say, almost feel it about to fall apart - it's frenetic, manic and just rammed to the brim with rock menace. You can feel the energy blasting out and make no mistakes, these guys can play.

I know we've heard it a million times, but Smoke On The Water is literally the first riff that anyone who picks up a guitar plays. It's SO simple yet in the hands of a master, it's genius and I can't think of any other riff that's so simple and pushed so many people to pick up a guitar.

I've not heard this album before, but I LOVE it. For a live album, it's pretty much perfect and I wish I was at that gig.

9/10

 

[OB1]

Of course. Anything is pointless when you boil it down. I do love a good solo but prefer guitar or keyboard - that drum solo on "The Mule" was a challenging listen for me.

I don’t mind drummers get their few minutes in the limelight at a show, especially if there is some theatricality or showmanship involved, but they rarely translate well to record, with one obvious exception. I usually skip the one on MiJ but it is one of the better ones. Paice is a fantastic drummer but I’m not sure that even he plays solos anymore.