282. John Martyn | Solid Air (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Solid Air
2. Over the Hill
3. Don't Want to Know
4. I'd Rather Be the Devil
5. Go Down Easy
6. Dreams by the Sea
7. May You Never
8. The Man in the Station
9. The Easy Blues

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Solid Air is a tempestuous album. The music is blues, folk rock and folk jazz. The foundation is blues and elements of jazz and rock are developed up from there. The songs are truly wild. They often start out very calm and somewhat downcast. Then they all of a sudden loud and uncontrollable. John Martyn generally sings with a dispassionate mumble despite these songs being deeply emotional.

Once again, this is the reason why there is value in listening to the albums on the 1001 Albums list. This is an album I would never have listened to otherwise. And since it's one of the most amazing albums I've ever heard, I would have been the poorer for not ever listening to it. This is worth listening to and it belongs in every serious album collection. For its uniqueness, it deserves to be on 1001 Albums list. I'll be pleasantly surprised to hear another artist or band who is as different.

All the songs are amazing. The stand outs are Solid Air, Over the Hill, Don't Want to Know, I'd Rather Be the Devil, Go Down Easy, Dreams by the Sea, May You Never, The Man in the Station and The Easy Blues.

★★★★★★★★★★

263. Paul Simon | Paul Simon (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Mother and Child Reunion
2. Duncan
3. Everything Put Together Falls Apart
4. Run That Body Down
5. Armistice Day
6. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
7. Peace Like a River
8. Papa Hobo
9. Hobo's Blues
10. Paranoia Blues
11. Congratulations

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Paul Simon is an inane album. The music is folk rock. It's Paul Simon, minus Art Garfunkel, singing along to some nice melodies.

Paul Simon should drop the pretence of being both a folk musician and a serious social commentator. He's neither. How can anyone take Mother and Child Reunion seriously? How about Hobo's Blues? Or Paranoia Blues? And the socially-conscious ones like Armistice Day and Peace Like a River are lost amidst all the nonsense. Rather it seems he wants to be a storytelling singer-songwriter. Except I don't believe him or I don't care or both. It's just clever shtick to me. He'd rather rhyme than make sense.

Most of the music is nice though. I'll leave it at that.

The songs I enjoy musically are: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Armistice Day, Peace Like a River and Hobo's Blues.

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

246. Neil Young | Harvest (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Out on the Weekend
2. Harvest
3. A Man Needs a Maid
4. Heart of Gold
5. Are You Ready for the Country?
6. Old Man
7. There's a World
8. Alabama
9. The Needle and the Damage Done
10. Words (Between the Lines of Age)

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Harvest is an unfocused album. The music is mix of country rock and folk rock. The songs are lean, that is when there isn't an orchestral accompaniment, and mostly acoustic. No matter, there isn't a lack of melodies, riffs or solos. The lyrics are deeply personal and troubling; they're of a man suffering from loneliness and weariness of the world.

Neil Young writes really beautiful songs and he performs them as if he means it. But with this album Neil Young seems confused and doesn't have a real point to make; he seems uninspired.

The album is good, but it's hard to get excited about. Perhaps this album is just meant to be one big downer. I don't think this album is necessary for the 1001 Albums list; other Neil Young albums are similar enough, and they're the only ones that matter since he's the only who gets this style right.

All of the songs are good. The stand outs are Out on the Weekend, Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Old Man, The Needle and the Damage Done, and Words (Behind the Lines of Age).

★★★★★★★★☆☆

245. Steely Dan | Can't Buy A Thrill (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Do It Again
2. Dirty Work
3. Kings
4. Midnite Cruiser
5. Only a Fool Would Say That
6. Reelin' in the Years
7. Fire in the Hole
8. Brooklyn
9. Change of the Guard
10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

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Can't Buy A Thrill is a lush album. The music is soft rock. But that seems to simplistic. There's a complexity to this album that makes it seems more like jazz than rock. However, it's definitely not jazz, if jazz means improvisation. This album certainly isn't soft rock either; there are enough guitar solos and heavy drumming to counter that idea.

Ultimately, the music is mature and cerebral. This is rock and roll for the professional class, which might be why it gets classified as soft rock. There's a lot of rock music being made for the hippies-turned-yuppies and most of it is vapid pap, having lost it's rebellious edge. This album teeters on the edge of that leaning more on the side of the latter than the former.

The album is maddening. I want to like it and I want to hate it. I really like how it sounds, but the singers come off as smug and pretentious, like these guys are in on a joke you aren't privvy to and you're an idiot because of it. I do think this album should be on the 1001 Albums list. Like a lot of similar bands at this time, Steely Dan helps to usher in the soft rock nonsense that plagues the airwaves during the 1970s and 1980s.

All of the songs are good. The stand outs are Do It Again, Dirty Work, Kings, Midnite Cruiser, Reelin' in the Years, Fire in the Hole, and Brooklyn.

★★★★★★★★★☆

240. David Bowie | Hunky Dory (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Changes
2. Oh! You Pretty Things
3. Eight Line Poem
4. Life on Mars?
5. Kooks
6. Quicksand
7. Fill Your Heart
8. Andy Warhol
9. Song for Bob Dylan
10. Queen Bitch
11. The Bewlay Brothers

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Hunky Dory is a charming album. The music is glam rock. The songs have a hard edge to them, but they aren't bluesy enough to be called hard rock. The lyrics are impenetrable, but there are sensible fragments that evoke interesting imagery and humor. The album is also replete with melody which is its strength.

There's not a whole lot to say about this album. It's not a profound album, but neither is it pretentious or smug. It's just a set of incredibly catchy songs with song weird, funny and evocative lyrics. It won't change your life, but it'll brighten your day.

The album is wonderful. It's worth listening to and would make a fine addition to a collection. I'm not sure it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list, though.

All the songs on this album are excellent. The stand outs are Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Eight Line Poem, Life on Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Fill Your Heart, Andy Warhol, Song for Bob Dylan, Queen Bitch and The Bewlay Brothers.

★★★★★★★★★★

239. T. Rex | Electric Warrior (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Mambo Sun
2. Cosmic Dancer
3. Jeepster
4. Monolith
5. Lean Woman Blues
6. Get It On
7. Planet Queen
8. Girl
9. The Motivator
10. Life's a Gas
11. Rip Off

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Electric Warrior is a sultry album. The music is glam rock. For this album, that seems to mean pop songs with a hard rock edge. The lyrics are really neat. I don't know what it all means, but as snippets, they drip sexuality and attitude.

The music is slow and grinding and Marc Bolan's voice is seductive. This is nothing but the blues. However, the bluesmen were men in a man's world, but Marc Bolan's world is sexually ambiguous and anyone can play the role of seducer.

The album is fantastic. I never had much faith in glam rock and T. Rex was no exception, but I've come to adore the style. I like the sexuality and the sexual ambiguity implied by both the music and the art and the artists. That's the real attraction to this album. It's worth listening to and would make a fine addition to a collection. I think it also deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list since this is the strongest example of glam to appear.

All the songs on this album are excellent. The stand outs are Mambo Sun, Cosmic Sun, Jeepster, Monolith, Lean Woman Blues, Get It On, Planet Queen, Girl, The Motivator, Life's a Gas and Rip Off. Yes, that's all of them. Truly amazing stuff.

★★★★★★★★★★

236. Gene Clark | White Light (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The Virgin
2. With Tomorrow
3. White Light
4. Because of You
5. One in a Hundred
6. For a Spanish Guitar
7. Where My Love Lies Asleep
8. Tears of Rage
9. 1975

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White Light is an exquisite album. The music is country. While it's country music, it doesn't incorporate all the elements of country music. There isn't any twangy guitar sound. Gene Clark doesn't sound at all like a country music singer and the lyrics don't follow the common themes found in country music. So, while this album doesn't resemble country music in any way, it's unmistakably country. I'm guessing it's the slow tempo, the sad and somber tone and the harmonica that makes this a country album.

The main focus is the lyrics. They are central to the songs and Gene Clark delivers them in a deliberate and detached way. He's just a storyteller even if the songs involve him.

The music is notable. The playing is mature and restrained. Only the essential comes through which gives Gene Clark room to sing. And he has a wonderful voice to listen to. It's so cool and calm. There's a timeless quality to the songs.

The album is wonderful. This is one of the best overall albums I've heard so far. It's the kind of album I want to put on again and again. It's surprising for me to feel this way because I think Gene Clark is one of the main reasons I don't really enjoy any pre-Gram Parsons Byrds' albums.

I certainly think this album is worth listening to and it deserves to be in any serious collector's collection. I believe it should be on the 1001 Albums list. Gene Clark takes country music in an interesting direction. I suspect he's the only one who went in this direction, but it would have been worthwhile for other country artists to pursue.

All the songs on this album are outstanding. For a Spanish Guitar is my favorite and With Tomorrow a close second.

★★★★★★★★★★

230. Joni Mitchell | Blue (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. All I Want
2. My Old Man
3. Little Green
4. Carey
5. Blue
6. California
7. This Flight Tonight
8. River
9. A Case of You
10. The Last Time I Saw Richard

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Blue is a personal album. The music is folk. Joni Mitchell sings mostly about her past relationships. Her voice takes some time to get used to, and it's well worth taking the time. The songs aren't very catchy but the music goes well Joni Mitchell's singing.

I can imagine this album was quite risqué when it was released. Although the women's lib movement was in full force, how many women were writing and singing about their sexuality? Even though it wasn't known until much later, how many women would sing about giving up their child for adoption? (Little Green)

I think this album is great simply because it is so personal. I think it's worth listening to, but not too sure about it needing to be on the 1001 Albums list. If it deserves to be on the list, it's because of its personal nature.

All the songs are very good. I think All I Want, Little Green, California, River and The Last Time I Saw Richard are the stand outs.

★★★★★★★★★☆

229. Leonard Cohen | Songs of Love and Hate (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Avalanche
2. Last Year's Man
3. Dress Rehearsal Rag
4. Diamonds in the Mine
5. Love Calls You by Your Name
6. Famous Blue Raincoat
7. Sing Another Song, Boys
8. Joan of Arc

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Songs of Love and Hate is a bitter album. The music is folk. There is generally very little accompaniment to Leonard Cohen's singing. Generally, it's vocals, a guitar and string arrangement.

The lyrics are the central feature of this album. And as the album title indicates, these songs are about love and hate. They seem to be personal songs. Filtered through Leonard Cohen's singing, the lyrics become cynical, scornful and angry. So, I'd say there's more hate than love. But I'm not very good at deciphering lyrics.

Despite that, I think Leonard Cohen is the best folk singer/songwriter. His lyrics are more personal, more authentic, more universal, less whiny and less narcissistic than what is emerging among the pop and new folk singer/songwriters. While his songs and lyrical themes wouldn't work well in the mainstream, it would have been wise had the new crop of singer/songwriters approach their lyrics with more seriousness.

I think this is a great album. It's dark and moody. It's an album worth listening to. Folk enthusiasts will definitely want to add this to their collection. Of course, folk has been done to death, and this album isn't extending the genre in any significant way, so it doesn't belong on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are excellent. The stand outs are Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds in the Mine and Joan of Arc.

★★★★★★★★★★

227. Rod Stewart | Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Every Picture Tells a Story
2. Seems Like a Long Time
3. That's All Right
4. Tomorrow Is a Long Time
5. Henry
6. Maggie May
7. Mandolin Wind
8. (I Know) I'm Losing You
9. Reason to Believe

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Every Picture Tells a Story is a rowdy album. The music is rock and roll. There are other styles, but its heart never strays from rock and roll.

This album is no nonsense. There isn't a vapid, vacuous or insipid song on it. There is no flash or showing off. That's the idealized kind of rock and roll realized primarily by Rod Stewart and the Who and sometimes by Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.

I think this is a great album. It's not a great as Gasoline Alley, but it's worth listening to and worth owning, just for (I Know) I'm Losing You. It probably shouldn't belong on the 1001 Albums list. It's too similar in style and quality to Gasoline Alley. But then again, if not this, then what?

All the songs sound great. Every Picture Tells a Story, Seems Like a Long Time, That's All Right, Maggie May, (I Know) I'm Losing You and Reason to Believe are the real stand outs. 

★★★★★★★★★★

225. Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Black Dog
2. Rock and Roll
3. The Battle of Evermore
4. Stairway to Heaven
5. Misty Mountain Hop
6. Four Sticks
7. Going to California
8. When the Levee Breaks

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Note: There is no official title to Led Zeppelin's fourth studio album. Atlantic Records, Led Zeppelin's record label, often used the titles, The Fourth Album and Four Symbols to catalogue it. Other names that have been used are Led Zeppelin IV and Runes. Members of Led Zeppelin have referred to it as The Fourth Album and Led Zeppelin IV.

Led Zeppelin IV is an masterful album. The music is hard rock. Led Zeppelin has gotten even further away from their blues rock style. This album blends folk rock with hard rock which would suggest that the music is tempered, but it's not. This is one of the heaviest rock albums to date. This lyrics give this album a mystical and transcendent aura.

This is a relentless album.  Nowhere on this album is there a down period to recoup. The album just comes charging out of the gate with Black Dog and Rock and Roll which are two of the heaviest songs ever recorded. The album slows down but keeps charging ahead with The Battle of Evermore and Stairway to Heaven which feature the folkier side of the album. The album regains speed with Misty Mountain Hop and then goes into overdrive with Four Sticks which is not very different from the two opening songs. Going to California is another folkie song which slows down the pace just to prepare for the final burst of energy that comes from When the Levee Breaks.

Led Zeppelin has always had a timeless quality to their albums, this album especially. Logically, there is no reason why Led Zeppelin should have sounded any different from the English blues rock bands from the mid-to-late 1960s. A lot of great music came from that group, but none of them transcended their moment in time. Led Zeppelin did and I've always wondered why, as I'm sure many others have. I think this album reveals why. It's not the musicians or songs or group dynamics; it's Jimmy Page's album production. Jimmy Page is a master producer and it's his genius as producer for why Led Zeppelin transcends their moment in time.

This is a phenomenal album. It should be listened to and it belongs in every serious collection. This album deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list because of its timeless quality and also because it just extends the hard rock boundary so far that in some ways hard rock hasn't yet reached the boundary again.

Every song is brilliant. I would list them all as stand outs, but I would rather instead point out that When the Levee Breaks is the best song on the album. And I will never tire of listening to Stairway to Heaven. The final section will always make it worthwhile.

★★★★★★★★★★

223. Don McLean | American Pie (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. American Pie
2. Till Tomorrow
3. Vincent
4. Crossroads
5. Winterwood
6. Empty Chairs
7. Everybody Loves Me, Baby
8. Sister Fatima
9. The Grave
10. Babylon

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American Pie is a somber album. The music is folk. Don McLean has a wonderful voice. He is more poetic than his fellow singer/songwriters and more sincere. Many of the songs feel deeply personal and that he is confiding in the listener who he treats as a good friend. 

The problem with the album is the title song, American Pie, and Vincent. Both are far superior to the remaining songs. American Pie also suffers from lyrics that are too distracting. The desire to interpret the meaning of the every lyric obscures a profound commentary about a sad event and its aftermath. Maybe it's not his fault, but had the lyrics been less obvious, temptation may have been avoided.

This is a very good album. I've never had a high opinion of it because of American Pie and all the nostalgic baggage that comes with it. But there's a serious songwriter hidden behind that song. The remaining songs are deeply emotional. I'm glad I had a chance to better appreciate Don McLean. I think this album is worth listening to to know what a good singer/songwriter sounds like. I don't think it really belongs on the 1001 Albums list, though.

All the songs are good. The stand outs are: Till Tomorrow, Vincent, Winterwood, Everybody Loves Me, Baby, Sister Fatima and The Grave.

★★★★★★★★★☆

205. Jethro Tull | Aqualung (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Aqualung
2. Cross-Eyed Mary
3. Cheap Day Return
4. Mother Goose
5. Wond'ring Aloud
6. Up to Me
7. My God
8. Hymn 43
9. Slipstream
10. Locomotive Breath
11. Wind-Up

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Aqualung is a thought-provoking album. The music is progressive rock. It's a mix of aggressive riff-based songs and beautiful, contemplative melodies. The flute plays a main role in many of the songs which seems to be a first for a rock album.

The lyrics are interesting. They seem to be a mix of social and religious commentary. Some seem to be honest and forthright, others scathing, vicious and snide. I don't find the lyrics to be very deep, but I really like the mental imagery they paint when I'm listening.

This is a really good album. It's actually one of my favorites, but I has trouble being cohesive. The first half of the album seems to be somewhat linked thematically and the second half is as well. There have been claims that this album is a concept album. Ian Anderson denies that it is. I never even considered it to be one.

I think it's an album worth listening to. I'm mixed about it being on the 1001 Albums list. It's listed as a progressive rock album. I disagree with that designation. I think it's nothing more than hard rock. But, if it were actually a progressive rock album, then it should be on the list.

All of the songs are good and there are a ton of stand outs: Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Mother Goose, Up to Me, My God, Hymn 43 and Locomotive Breath.

★★★★★★★★★☆

199. Traffic | John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

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

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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.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

198. Cat Stevens | Tea for the Tillerman (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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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

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Tea for the Tillerman is a catchy album. The music is folk rock, but it's a more aggressive-sounding album than most other folk rock albums.

This is a really beautiful-sounding album. The songs all have wonderful melodies. The songs often start off very quietly and build to a crescendo. It's really effective if you buy into the lyrics. The lyrics aren't anything to get excited about, though. They're sentimental and self-absorbed, nothing more than an expression of faux spirituality.

I like this album, but I'd rather have different lyrics. I think it's worth listening to just for the music. I don't think it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list. This album isn't a new development in folk rock. It's just another album along the vapid path to adult oriented rock.

All the songs sound wonderful. The real stand outs are: Hard Headed Woman, Wild World, Sad Lisa, Longer Boats, On the Road to Find Out and Father and Son.

★★★★★★★★★☆

197. Simon and Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

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

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Bridge Over Troubled Water is a melodic album. The music is folk rock. This music is inoffensive, but that's nothing to be proud of.

This album is an improvement over their previous two albums. The music is more diverse and interesting. The lyrics are less condescending and pontificating, but still lightweight, frivolous and shallow. I can't believe Bob Dylan did a cover of The Boxer. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

I'm more critical of the lyrics on Simon and Garfunkel albums because their lyrics are the main attraction. People listen to Jimi Hendrix because of his guitar playing and they listen to Simon and Garfunkel for the clever lyrics.

I do think this album is worth listening to, though. For two reasons, it's one of many entryways to the adult oriented style of rock that has plagued popular music ever since: the music is innocuous and the lyrics are vapid. I don't think it belongs on the 1001 Albums list because it's more like a loose collection of songs rather than an album.

The standout songs are: Bridge Over Troubled Water, El Condor Pasa (If I Could), Cecilia, The Boxer and Bye Bye Love.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

196. George Harrison | All Things Must Pass (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. I'd Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn't It a Pity (Version One)
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. Out of the Blue
20. It's Johnny's Birthday
21. Plug Me In
22. I Remember Jeep
23. Thanks for the Pepperoni

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All Things Must Pass is a big album. The music is rock and folk rock. This album is a collection of songs that George Harrison had been amassing during his time with the Beatles. This debut album is more like a greatest hits album since the songs have been gathering since the mid-sixties and since they are (most likely) the crème de la crème of song ideas he had.

George Harrison was supported by Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon who would go on and form Derek and the Dominos as a result of playing together on this album. There were also a boatload of other famous and soon-to-be famous musicians who played on this album. So, George had all the necessary talent to make a great album. And he did make a very good album.

I think the first two albums of this triple album are immediately likable, but at the same time it's overwhelming since there are a lot of songs and each of them is deadly serious. Then, there's the third album, Apple Jam, which was apparently included to help justify the high price of the album. While I don't mind listening to musicians jam, I think the third album was an unnecessary and tedious addition.

I think this is a great album despite the third album. Though, I do wonder why George decided to release so much material at once. Regardless, it's certainly an album worth listening to and I think it's an essential album for serious music collectors. However, I'm not convinced that it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list.

There are so many outstanding songs on this album, that I'm not going to list them. I'll just say I liked every song on the first two album immensely.

★★★★★★★★★☆

195. Rod Stewart | Gasoline Alley (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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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 (I Don't Want to Discuss It)

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Gasoline Alley is a smart album. The music is rock and roll, but it's not a retrospective. This is a contemporary incarnation of rock and roll. Other rock bands since the early Beatles' albums have been heavily influenced by the blues. While this album is informed by the blues, it doesn't draw too directly from the source, unlike the blues rock and psychedelic rock bands.

This album is really strong throughout. The first two songs are really catchy and energetic. Only a Hobo is a great cover of a Dylan song and it slows the pace right down for the next two songs which are slow but really great songs. Country Comfort is one of my favorite songs. It really gets going when Ronnie Lane joins Rod Stewart on vocals. From Cut Across Shorty to the end, the album begins to rock harder and harder which is a perfect way to end an album.

I think this is one of the best albums I've ever heard. I like how it strips away all the ostentation of the past decade to return to a clean rock and roll sound. This is certainly an album worth listening to frequently. It's certainly an album that any seriously collector should have. I do believe it should be on the 1001 Albums list. It may not be the album responsible for the backlash toward psychedelic rock and prog rock, but it's certainly demonstrative of a desire to make things simpler.

There's not a bad song on this album. My favorites are: Gasoline Alley, Only a Hobo, Country Comfort, Cut Across Shorty and You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It).

★★★★★★★★★★

191. Nick Drake | Bryter Layter (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Introduction
2. Hazey Jane II
3. At the Chime of a 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

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Bryter Layter is a lugubrious album. The music is folk, although the presence of piano and saxophone belie the simplicity of that observation. Nick Drake gets some assistance from some of the members of Fairport Convention, John Cale and two members of the Beach Boys.

The songs all sound really beautiful. Although, there is a foreboding quality to the beautiful melodies, as if to suggest that while everything seems well on the surface, just a glance below reveals a different truth. I think the lyrics suggest the same.

Each instrument is very quiet and restrained. There isn't much interplay between them, but they work together well. This is one album where it's very important to pay careful attention to the music.

This is an outstanding album. It's certainly worth listening to. I'm not too sure about whether it should be on the 1001 Albums list. It's not as if there hasn't been enough folk albums. However, this is a different kind of folk album. It certainly shows a folk style that is more introspective than political and worldly. I guess I'd lean in favor of it being on the list.

All of the songs are excellent. The stand outs are: At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Hazey Jane I, Fly, Poor Boy and Sunday.

★★★★★★★★★★

190. Grateful Dead | American Beauty (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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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'

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American Beauty is a mellow album. The music is folk rock and country rock. It's mainly an acoustic album, but there is a clear presence of electric guitars.

This album got better the more I listened to it. Although Box of Rain sounded better each time, I don't think it or Friend of the Devil should kick off the album. There are stronger songs to start with.

I think it's worth listening to, but I'm not sure why it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list. Gram Parsons was doing this kind of stuff with the Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers a few years back. So, it's a good album, but nothing that hasn't been heard before.

All of the songs are quite good. The stand outs are: Box of Rain, Sugar Magnolia, Ripple, Brokedown Palace, Till the Morning Comes and Truckin'.

★★★★★★★★☆☆