03: Album Review: The Band/ The Band
For an album created at the end of the prolific, experimental 1960's, here was a final reminder for an America. A reminder of a music that moved and shaked without amplifiers or howling frontmen. Originally called "Harvest", this self-titled sophomore album, was just that, The Band, nothing more, nothing less, with quite a rich harvest to go around. Most bands, then and today, spend an entire career attempting to sound as effortlessly glorious.
"Music From Big Pink", a farewell to that backing band label that gave Dylan his channel to greatness came and went first. A year later,one of the most humble albums in all the artists' careers, The Band was here to stay. This album stained with a timeless picture of victory on the cover, "The Brown Album" proved that a rock and roll outfit in America whether from Canada or not, could produce an important document, rich with folk and Americana on the brink of the '70s, without sounding the least bit phony.
The music is very, very organic. The musicians are very, very tight. It's almost impossible to skip through a song. "Across the Great Divide", "Rag Mama Rag", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", the first side's dream-like, rollicking tunes seem like they've always existed. No single musician stands out, although the piano almost steals the show, and the lyrics consistently delivered in time with the band perfectly. By the time you reach "Up On Cripple Creek", things are in full swing, and "Jemima Surrender" brings out all the stops.
All the vocal styles of the members of The Band blend together just fresh enough to be one. No folk singer, much folk outfit has sounded like they were having this much fun.
Well, you get the point, this record stops time. It's brilliant and poignant, and together. Never have I heard a more unified album as one piece of music, and I doubt I ever will. No band sounds quite like this band.
Bottom Line:Stunning musicianship, a timepiece for rock on this planet.
Overall Rating:10/10
Album Highlight: First side of the album + bonus track "Get Up Jake" (remastered CD only)
I agree fully. This is one of the best albums ever made. What's interesting is that I probably would have mentioned a completely different list of songs if I had written a review like this. "When You Awake," "Unfaithful Servant," "Rocking Chair," "King Harvest" and "Jawbone" are all extremely resonant for me..
I certainly do admire those songs, too! My favorite of those is "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" mostly because of the gritty vocal. Also, "Jawbone" has a bass line that really cooks. Man, I love their music.
Wow! Thanks for the reminder on why I'm a member here. Beautifully written.
I appreciate that.