02 November, 2012

199. Traffic | John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)



Tracks
  1. Glad
  2. Freedom Rider
  3. Empty Pages
  4. Stranger To Himself
  5. John Barleycorn
  6. Every Mother's Son

John Barleycorn Must Die is a vigorous album. The music is a mix of jazz fusion and progressive folk rock.

For most of the songs, the music is driven by a funky groove with the rest of the band jamming on top of it. The jams are interesting enough, but they lack a destination; Glad just ends where Freedom Rider begins. The album itself is directionless, too.

Although, I like this album, I'm not impressed by it and I don't really see its significance. Miles Davis and Soft Machine have done similar things, but more definitively. While there are some good grooves and melodies, a great album they do not make.

All the songs are enjoyable. The real stand outs are: Freedom Rider and John Barleycorn.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

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