196. All Things Must Pass

All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
1970

Tracks
1. I'd Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn't It A Pity
5. What Is Life
6. If Not for You
7. Behind That Locked Door 
8. Let It Down
9. Run Of The Mill
10. Beware of Darkness
11. Apple Scruffs
12. Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
13. Awaiting On You All 
14. All Things Must Pass
15. I Dig Love
16. Art Of Dying
17. Isn't It A Pity (Version Two)
18. Hear Me Lord
19. It's Johnny's Birthday
20. Plug Me In
21. I Remember Jeep
22. Thanks For The Pepperoni
23. Out Of The Blue


Yay!  Another Beatles member album!  I have to say I was a bit nervous.  I mean, the John Lennon album was so whiny and shitty that my expectations were not high.


As you can see, this is a really, really long album.  Like Ella Fitzgerald long.  I believe that its sheer length is its downfall.  Couldn't you have broken it up George?  Now I can barely discern between the songs.  Also, the Book said that these tracks were just a lot of jam sessions.  For example, "Wah Wah" is basically just that sound made by instruments for four minutes.


I really just don't think anyone blossomed after the Beatles broke up.  I expected to be amazed by their solo work but so far...meh.  Maybe Ringo will give us something good.  Ew.  Then I would have to be one of those annoying people that's like "look at how quirky I am; Ringo is my favorite Beatle!"  I sincerely hope I don't have to go down that path.


RATING: 2/5

195. Gasoline Alley

Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
1970

Tracks
1. Gasoline Alley
2. It's All Over Now
3. Only A Hobo
4. My Way Of Giving
5. Country Comfort
6. Cut Across Shorty
7. Lady Day
8. Jo's Lament 
9. You're My Girl


Rod Stewart.  There is a familiar name that I couldn't have placed in a million years before today.    I did feel like that name had a negative connotation; like I shouldn't have liked him for some reason?

As I contemplate my utterly uninteresting thoughts, I will continue with the post.  This is a really great album.  I love it when anyone but Bob Dylan sings Bob Dylan songs.  "Only a Hobo" was a really great track and the instrumentals on "Gasoline Alley" were awesome.  Also, he has a really unique voice that is catchy.  Check it out!


RATING: 5/5

194. Third

Third
Soft Machine
1970

Tracks
1. Facelift
2. Slightly All The Time
3. Moon In June
4. Out Bloody Rageous


Oh dear god make it stop.  I am actually getting a pounding headache from this album.  That is right folks.  The 1001 journey is a painful one.  I am about twenty five minutes into this album as I write this.  As I am a loyal follower of the Book, I will listen to the album through the end.  However, I can safely say I can give my opinion of it right now.


What would prompt anyone to make those noises?  This album isn't even fun in a "hey, you crazy kids" kind of way.  It is nauseating.  The band members pound on the piano and play unpleasant instruments that actually made me cringe.  Ugh.


RATING: 0 stars (I draw the line when it actually hurts to listen to the music)

193. Live at Leeds

Live at Leeds
The Who
1970

Tracks
1. Heaven And Hell
2. I Can't Explain
3. Fortune Teller
4. Tattoo
5. Young Man (Blues)
6. Substitute
7. Happy Jack 
8. I'm A Boy
9. A Quick One 
10. Summertime Blues
11. Shakin' All Over/Spoonful
12. My Generation
13. Magic Bus


I have officially decided that I don't like listening to recordings of concerts.  It doesn't it the least make me feel like I was there.  It just makes me sad that I wasn't.  Plus, it is so raw which would be exciting in a concert setting but just kind of feels bad outside of one.  Also,  the banter really makes no sense on a recording.


That being said, The Who are pretty great here.  Though I still feel like they are not living up to My Generation, the songs were pretty good.  Except when they did some of Tommy.  That was just upsetting.  Wow, I am really a hater today.  I apologize, I do like The Who.

RATING: 3/5 

192. Ananda Shankar

Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
1970

Tracks
1. Jumpin' Jack Flash
2. Snow Flower
3. Light my Fire
4. Mamata (Affection)
5. Metamorphosis
6. Sagar (The Ocean)
7. Dance Indra
8. Raghupati


I am going out to breakfast with some friends soon so I only have a couple minutes to do this.  I learned today that this album started the micro genre called sitar rock.  Apparently Jimi Hendrix asked Ananda to do an album with him and he declined and made his own debut one.  How many people would say no to Jimi Hendrix???

Anyway, this album is purely instrumental which I am becoming more tolerant of.  Still, I didn't love it.  I could certainly appreciate it, but I sort of hate the sound of a sitar (except in Moulin Rouge!).  Too echo-y for me.


RATING: 3/5

191. Bryter Layter

Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
1970

Tracks
1. Introduction
2. Hazey Jane II
3. At The Chime Of The City Clock
4. One Of These Things First
5. Hazey Jane I
6. Bryter Layter
7. Fly
8. Poor Boy
9. Northern Sky
10. Sunday


The theme of 1970s solo work seems to be whining.  This album really reminded me of John Lennon's album a couple albums back.  At least this album seemed to be a bit more self aware; the song "Poor Boy" seems to be making fun of himself.  Apparently he was pretty upset that every virtually ignored Five Leaves Left.


Nick Drake has a really soft, sexy voice and it is never better than in this album.  The instrumentals were really cool; I felt like I should be sitting at a bar waiting for an assassin or something.  Overall, a little obnoxious but Drake had his fair share of problems so I really didn't expect anything more.


RATING: 3/5

190. American Beauty

American Beauty
The Grateful Dead
1970

Tracks
1. Box Of Rain
2. Friend Of The Devil
3. Sugar Magnolia
4. Operator
5. Candyman
6. Ripple
7. Brokedown Palace
8. Till The Morning Comes
9. Attics Of My Life
10. Truckin'


Hello, everyone!  I just returned from a week in London. Look, I can prove it!

It was absolutely spectacular.  Now, however, I am suffering from Post Vacation Depression and I have a shitload of work to do.  So of course, I decided to sit down and listen to the Grateful Dead.

Wow.  That was actually amazing.  I expected Pink Floyd but instead I got CSNY!  I always thought my experience would be more like this:

It was nice, easy listening and I finally understand "Deadheads".  I guess I should go do things now.  Like my other blogs!

RATING: 5/5