Tracks
- Do It Again
- Dirty Work
- Kings
- Midnite Cruiser
- Only a Fool Would Say That
- Reelin' in the Years
- Fire in the Hole
- Brooklyn
- Change of the Guard
- Turn That Heartbeat Over Again
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.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- Sail Away
- Lonely at the Top
- He Gives Us All His Love
- Last Night I Had a Dream
- Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear
- Old Man
- Political Science
- Burn On
- Memo to My Son
- Dayton, Ohio - 1903
- You Can Leave Your Hat On
- God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)
Sail Away is a wry album. The music is rock. The songs are heavy on the piano and many have an orchestral accompaniment. The atmosphere is very relaxed and filled with lots of melody. This is juxtaposed with some very serious, albeit ironic, sardonic and witty, lyrics.
Randy Newman is not afraid of confronting the ugly parts of American life and history. He does it in a way that is that is humorous, yet almost uncomfortable. He turns slavery into a sales pitch on Sail Away. He suggests the US nuke every part of the world, except Australia, to bring peace on Political Science. He jokes about the time when the Cuyahoga River burned because it was so polluted on Burn On. He also suggests that God doesn't care about humans and thinks they're fools for worshiping him on God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind).
Of course, it's all humor with a serious point. It's a satirical attack on those Americans who believe God is on the side of America and that everything the US does is right and good. Criticizing the US and God is nothing new in music, but what's new is the perspective; Randy Newman is blaming ordinary Americans for America's faults rather than blaming the politicians and other leaders. His caricature of bigots and racists is often too simplistic and exaggerated which can often get in the way of his point.
The album is quite good. I didn't expect to like this album. Randy Newman isn't just another run-of-the-mill singer/songwriter. The album is worth listening to, but I'm not convinced this should be on the 1001 Albums list.
All the songs on this album are excellent. The stand outs are Sail Away, Lonely at the Top, He Gives Us All His Love, Last Night I Had a Dream, Political Science, Burn On, You Can Leave Your Hat On, and God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind).
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- Gotta Get Up
- Driving Along
- Early in the Morning
- The Moonbeam Song
- Down
- Without You
- Coconut
- Let the Good Times Roll
- Jump into the Fire
- I'll Never Leave You
Nilsson Schmilsson is an unserious album. The music is baroque pop. There's really no center of gravity. Most of the songs are wild, poppy and fun. But there are some that go way out on a ledge. Coconut is probably the most extreme because it's a calypso song and that's not a style which gets much air play. Without You is a power ballad which is a style that it just coming on the scene. Jump into the Fire is a raging rocker.
The main feature here though is Harry Nilsson's singing. The reason there can be so much variety on this album is his vocal abilities. His range is vast—from pretty low notes to extremely high ones and everything in between. He is also quite charismatic and fun to listen to. He reminds me of a comedic Scott Walker.
Cococut is probably the only problematic part of the album. It's a really fine song, but it doesn't fit. It's also so close to, if not really, a novelty song that it can distract. It's unfortunate because it's a great demonstration of Harry Nilsson's vocal talent.
The album is excellent. Without a doubt it's worth listening to and it's a good addition to any collection. This album drives a wedge between rock and roll and the singer/songwriter kind of folk rock and pop and creates a highly energetic pop that doesn't take itself very seriously. For that, it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list. However, with this style, there is so much opportunity for no talent hacks, that one must wonder if it's worth bargaining with the devil for great albums like this.
All the songs on this album are excellent. The stand outs are Gotta Get Up, Driving Along, Early in the Morning, The Moonbeam Song, Down, Without You, Coconut, Jump into the Fire and I'll Never Leave You.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Tracks
- Tiny Dancer
- Levon
- Razor Face
- Madman Across the Water
- Indian Sunset
- Holiday Inn
- Rotten Peaches
- All the Nasties
- Goodbye
Madman Across the Water is a catchy album. The music is soft rock. This music focuses heavily on piano and organ. The melodies have an edge to them which makes this album quite dramatic. Many of the song lyrics tell stories. While nothing profound, they enhance the songs.
This is a brilliant album. Soft rock, pop rock, adult-oriented rock or whatever the hell it is can take some pointers from this album about how to do it right. This isn't cheap, superficial, narcissistic music. This is entertainment. It is saccharine, of course, but it's Beatles-quality at least. This is worth listening to and should be on the 1001 Albums list.
All the songs are great. The stand outs are: Tiny Dance, Levon, Madman Across the Water, Rotten Peaches and All the Nasties.
★★★★★★★★★★
