204. The Madcap Laughs

The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
1970

Tracks
1. Terrapin
2. No Good Trying 
3. Love You
4. No Man's Land
5. Dark Globe
6. Here I Go 
7. Octopus 
8. Golden Hair 
9. Long Gone 
10. She Took A Long Cold Look 
11. Feel 
12. If It's In You 
13. Late Night


This is where my rather poor and untrained taste in music actually benefits me.  In terms of real quality, this album does not exactly excel.  Syd Barrett has a bit of trouble hitting high notes, so much so that one of his tracks, I think it was "If It's In You", started over after a painfully struck note.  In addition, you can hear the pages rustle during the album.  Not exactly high brow.


However, I absolutely loved it.  In case you didn't know, this guy was one of the founders of Pink Floyd.  Apparently he pulled an Alexander Spence and sort of lost it and left.  I am not a huge fan of Pink Floyd (despite what I told my attractive blond gentleman friend) but this was incredible.  I thought the lyrics were interesting and the tunes were catchy, particularly "She Took A Long Cold Look".  Definitely check it out.


RATING: 5/5

203. Abraxas

Abraxas
Santana
1970

Tracks
1. Singing Winds, Crying Beasts
2. Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
3. Oye Como Va
4. Incident at Neshabur
5. Se a Cabo
6. Mother's Daughter
7. Samba Pa Ti 
8. Hope You're Feeling Better
9. Nicoya


I pretty sure I listened to this album twice.  I think I may have listened to it before I went to Denver, but when I returned, I listened to it again because I couldn't remember it.  It is not exactly the most memorable album; it just kind of reminded me of a collection of songs that older couples probably dance to.


It is a pretty pleasant mix of both latin music and rock which made it pretty entertaining but nothing I will remember within two weeks.  


RATING: 2/5

202. McCartney

McCartney
Paul McCartney
1970

Tracks
1. Lovely Linda
2. That Would Be Something
3. Valentine's Day
4. Every Night
5. Hot As Sun Glasses
6. Junk
7. Man We Was Lonely
8. Oo You
9. Momma Miss America
10. Teddy Boy
11. Singalong Junk
12. Maybe I'm Amazed
13. Kree Nakoorie


My dad and I were recently talking about the Beatles' solo work and I think he made a really good point.  He said that George was the mystical one, Paul was the poppy one, and John was the "deep message" one.  When they were the Beatles, they blended together and took the edge off of each other's slightly abrasive personalities.  In their solo work, they all went back to their respective corners and just became slightly obnoxious.


I have just started to get nervous whenever I listen to the Beatles' solo works; I have just been hurt too many times (*looks off into the distance*).  However, I usually like really poppy, shallow stuff so I thought I would love this album.  Nope.  I was wrong.


Don't get me wrong.  I love "Silly Love Songs" as much as the next guy.  Just like I like "Imagine" and George's solo of "Here Comes the Sun".  What I didn't realize before this blog is that those songs are one in like thirty that these guys have done on their own and the rest are just pretty bad.  Even the critics agree with me on this one which is pretty rare.  This entire album is forgettable and pretty disappointing.

RATING: 2/5

201. Sweet Baby James

Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
1970

Tracks
1. Sweet Baby James 
2. Lo And Behold
3. Sunny Skies 
4. Steamroller
5. Country Roads 
6. Oh Susannah 
7. Fire And Rain
8. Blossom
9. Anywhere Like Heaven
10. Oh Baby Don't You Lose Your Lip On Me
11. Suite For 20 G


Oh, well that was just delightful.  My dad kept telling me to listen to this album.  He also says that I will love Tapestry and Devil in the White City.  Maybe I should start listening to him.


I think this guy rivals Cat Stevens for most uplifting music.  The song "Sunny Skies" is just so cheerful without coming across as cheesy so it is truly a delight.  We have all heard the song "Oh Susannah" but his version was both moving and original.  You can also watch him perform it with Johnny Cash on YouTube.


This is exactly the kind of album I needed today.  I have been kind of doubting my 1001 album journey but this reminded me why I am doing it.


RATING: 5/5

200. Fun House

Fun House
The Stooges
1970

Tracks
1. Down On The Street
2. Loose
3. T.V. Eye
4. Dirt
5. 1970
6. Fun House
7. L.A. Blues


200!  20% of the way there.


Any time I reach a milestone in the 1001 journeys, I usually write something cheesy-sounding about how much I have learned.  Yes, I felt like I have learned a lot with the album blog and I enjoy listening to the different albums.  But for some reason, my enthusiasm for this project is waning.  Maybe it is because no one reads this blog.  Maybe it is because Brie quit on me.  Maybe it because I am finding out my musical taste sucks and I will never be one of those cool intellectuals that can listen to Miles Davis without playing Freecell to distract myself from the boredom.  Or maybe it is because I don't feel at all qualified to write reviews on these albums so I feel like my writing is just plain sloppy.  Of course, I will continue to pursue this project because I don't like quitting things and I like listening to different kinds of music.


On that dark note, another shocker.  I hated this album.  I am not a punk rock or heavy metal fan. Actually, this guy I have a crush on (I have already been rejected by him) listens almost exclusively to heavy metal and I got to bring up Black Sabbath.  Fat lot of help that did to me.


Wow, why am I such a buzz kill today?  Anyway, if "T.V. Eye" is considered genius (Iggy just yelling nonsense), I am officially throwing in the towel and admitting defeat.  I mean, seriously, at that point, I am never going to understand music like I want to.

RATING: 0/5

199. John Barleycorn Must Die

John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
1970

Tracks
1. Glad
2. Freedom Rider
3. Empty Pages 
4. I Just Want You To Know
5. Stranger To Himself 
6. John Barleycorn
7. Every Mother's Son


Dufflepod readers, you may recall Traffic from their self-titled album awhile back in the sixties.  I really loved that album (especially the song "You Can All Join In").  This album is supposed to be infinitely better so of course, due to my horrible musical taste, I did not like it as much.


This album reminded me of The Fairport Convention; it was both jazzy and folksy.  Not my favorite combination.  Songs like "John Barleycorn" seemed to be trying just a bit too hard.  Traffic is definitely moving in a more artsy, mystical direction which comes across as annoying and pretentious to me.  I don't hate on music with a message but I feel like the message should come across more...effortlessly.

RATING: 3/5

198. Tea For The Tillerman

Tea For The Tillerman
Cat Stevens
1970

Tracks
1. Where Do The Children Play
2. Hard Headed Woman 
3. Wild World 
4. Sad Lisa 
5. Miles From Nowhere 
6. But I Might Die Tonight 
7. Longer Boats
8. Into White 
9. On The Road To Find Out 
10. Father And Son
11. Tea For The Tillerman


Okay, first of all, I cannot find my Richard III play and it is really pissing me off.  WHERE COULD IT BE????


Stop it guys!  I cannot fascinate you with the details of my life all day.  We have to get to the review; I'm sorry!  Anyway, everybody has heard of Cat Stevens.  I grew up with the song "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out".  He is one of those people that is sweet and doesn't know how to be anything else.  Each song on this album is pleasant and uplifting.  Even the sadder tracks are still hopeful and inspirational.  Great album to listen to on a Monday morning.

RATING: 5/5

197. Bridge Over Troubled Water

Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel
1970

Tracks
1. Bridge Over Troubled Water
2. El Condor Pasa
3. Cecilia
4. Keep The Customer Satisfied
5. So Long Frank Lloyd Wright
6. Boxer
7. Baby Driver 
8. Only Living Boy in New York
9. Why Don't You Write Me
10. Bye Bye Love
11. Song For The Asking


So this is my last Simon and Garfunkel album and I have to say I am a bit sad to see them go.  They had a great way of writing uplifting but poignant songs and I really enjoyed them.  I will see their solo work, though, which is evidently pretty bad.


Everybody has heard the song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" even if you don't think you have.  I think it is one of the most covered songs of all time.  Anyway, surprisingly enough, it is not the highlight of the album; I much preferred songs like "Baby Driver" and their cover of "Bye Bye Love".  Most of the songs had to do with Simon saying goodbye to Garfunkel which was pretty sweet.  Check it out.


RATING: 4/5

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

189. Moondance

Moondance
Van Morrison
1970

Tracks
1. Stoned Me 
2. Moondance3. Crazy Love4. Caravan5. Into The Mystic6. Come Running7. These Dreams Of You8. Brand New Day9. Everyone10. Glad Tidings


So I am going to London today and will be gone for a week.  I consider it part of the 1001 journey because I am going to birthplace of the Beatles, Charles Dickens, and Alfred Hitchcock. Which means my readers should be paying for this trip.  Oh wait, I don't have any.


Anyway, Van Morrison is frankly depressing.  That doesn't mean he can't be good, however.  Actually, I really enjoyed "Into the Mystic".  I think that song is the quintessential Morrison song; it has great vocals and instrumentals.  "Come Running" is a bit more upbeat, if that is your cup of tea.  Either way, it is worth a listen.

RATING: 4/5

187. Led Zeppelin III

Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
1970

Tracks
1. Immigrant song 
2. Friends
3. Celebration day
4. Since I've been loving you 
5. Out on the tiles
6. Gallows pole 
7. Tangerine 
8. That's the way 
9. Bron Y Aur stomp 
10. Hats off to (Roy) Harper


Blah.  Led Zeppelin.  I hate this band.  Of course, this album is supposed to be the exception because apparently even people that don't like Led Zeppelin should like this band.  Nope.  Sorry.


What is there to say?  The music is obnoxious, the singing is poor, and the lyrics are just so-so.  "Tangerine" was merely okay and that is supposed to be the best song in the album.  Hated it.  So there you go.


RATING: 2/5

185. Paranoid

Paranoid
Black Sabbath
1970

Tracks
1. War Pigs
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand Of Doom
7. Rat Salad
8. Fairies Wear Boots


Could it be?  A heavy metal album that doesn't make me what to yell "you kids!"???


I guess I have to accept this as my reality and just ignore the aliens that are altering the universe in this way.  Can you tell I am tired?  Anyway, this album was a lot of fun.  Ozzy has an interesting voice that really grows on you and the instrumentals were off the...off the what?  What expression am I thinking of?  It was good; all right?


In other news, my dad and I had a conversation today about CSNY which was really surprising since he isn't really a music person.  That is another thing I love about this journey; the connections it forges.

RATING: 4/5


I will probably edit this later since little sense was made today.

184. Deja Vu

Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
1970

Tracks
1. Carry On 
2. Teach Your Children 
3. Almost Cut My Hair 
4. Helpless 
5. Woodstock 
6. Déjà Vu 
7. Our House 
8. 4 + 20 
9. Country Girl
10. Everybody I Love You


Ah, I love this band.  Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young are always able to cheer me up.  Sometimes, when I feel upset, happy music kind of feels like it is rubbing itself in my face.  However, this band is the perfect combination of sunshine and rainbows and it always makes me feel better.  This album is no exception.


This is the first album with Young adding to the original trio.  It features some light songs but some of the tracks also carry a message like "Teach Your Children" and "Woodstock".  A truly amazing album and one that you should check out immediately.  Like right now. Do it.  Just do it.


RATING: 5/5

183. John Lennon/ Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
1970

Tracks
1. Mother
2. Hold On
3. I Found Out
4. Working Class Hero
5. Isolation
6. Remember
7. Love
8. Well Well Well
9. Look At Me
10. God
11. My Mummy's Dead
12. Power To The People
13. Do The Oz


So I have been writing posts for my movie blog for approximately two hours and I am getting really tired.  Must push through...for Lennon's sake.


You know that feeling when someone you don't really know that well just bursts into tears right in front of you.  You're like "I wish I could help...um, do you want me to call someone...I don't know what you are crying about...can I leave?"  That is what I was like through this entire album.  Lennon kind of just whines about his mom and his life and society.  It is like "I am sad that you are sad, but what do you want me to do about it?".  It was very exhausting.


All right so I hate to say this about such an artist but here goes...that was frankly obnoxious.  The last two songs just keep repeating the names of the song for like four minutes each.  It made my head hurt.  That was whiny and bad.  Still, I have faith that Lennon will come back.  Right?


RATING: 1/5

182. Stephen Stills

Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
1970

Tracks
1. Love The One You're With 
2. Do For The Others 
3. Church (Part Of Someone) 
4. Old Times Good Times 
5. Go Back Home
6. Sit Yourself Down 
7. To A Flame 
8. Black Queen 
9. Cherokee 
10. We Are Not Helpless


This is a really hard album to describe to people who haven't listened to it.  I would feel lame if I tried to convey how the music fills you when you listen to "Love The One You're With".  After I listened to it, I felt incredibly lifted up and hopeful.  To spare me the pain of cliches, please listen to the album and come back to this page.  I will wait.


Well, wasn't that great?  This album was kind of like The Valentine's Day of music (I am sorry I made a reference to that horrendous movie but it was the only example I could think of).  There is an all star backing, which includes Jimi Hendrix, Nash, and Booker T.  I have loved CSN ever since I heard "Marrakesh Express" and this album proved that Stills is not the Ringo of the group.  Definitely a Paul.

RATING: 5/5


Best song on album: