Music From Big Pink (The Band)
Today I want to get off the 'final release for a band' train, and instead talk about the 'first release for The Band'. And I'll get some of the negative out right away - I personally think Music From Big Pink is an overrated record, not terrible, but certainly not exciting and only occasionally moving.
One thing I will say in the Band's favor though. They sound authentic, and never moreso than on this first recording. Even when the writing isn't up to par, the band's vocal deliveries and ensemble sound keep things grounded in real human emotion. And what about that ensemble sound? These guys really do have a unique vibe all their own. It is roots music, but the abundance of piano and organ, as well as the guitar and especially vocal style, gives it a distinctly soulful feel that I find missing in a lot of 'Americana'. But when they get more adventurous with their arrangements on this record, I feel the results are spotty. I genuinely love the twists and turns of "We Can Talk", but I hate the overblown organ intro to "Chest Fever", and repeating it in the middle of the song was a terrible, terrible idea.
The songwriting is similarly inconsistent. The strongest songs for me, both melodically and lyrically, are when they clearly have Dylan's help: I could listen to "Tears of Rage" a million times and still be riveted. But when left to their own devices, they simply cannot deliver on the same level, despite some attempts like "The Weight" and "Lonesome Suzie". These aren't bad songs, but they're both longer than they need to be. Even some of the shorter songs tend to drag a bit ("In a Station" comes to mind).
When I think of Music From Big Pink as a whole, I must admit that it is a very cohesive record. It has a sound all its own, while avoiding sounding particularly repetitive. Nevertheless, it's also a fairly plodding record where the only real standouts occur because of outside influence. And while the sound may be homely and authentic, it's not particularly grabbing or exciting. But enough of my complaining, Dave claims to like this album a lot, so maybe he'll say something different.
Today I want to get off the 'final release for a band' train, and instead talk about the 'first release for The Band'. And I'll get some of the negative out right away - I personally think Music From Big Pink is an overrated record, not terrible, but certainly not exciting and only occasionally moving.
One thing I will say in the Band's favor though. They sound authentic, and never moreso than on this first recording. Even when the writing isn't up to par, the band's vocal deliveries and ensemble sound keep things grounded in real human emotion. And what about that ensemble sound? These guys really do have a unique vibe all their own. It is roots music, but the abundance of piano and organ, as well as the guitar and especially vocal style, gives it a distinctly soulful feel that I find missing in a lot of 'Americana'. But when they get more adventurous with their arrangements on this record, I feel the results are spotty. I genuinely love the twists and turns of "We Can Talk", but I hate the overblown organ intro to "Chest Fever", and repeating it in the middle of the song was a terrible, terrible idea.
The songwriting is similarly inconsistent. The strongest songs for me, both melodically and lyrically, are when they clearly have Dylan's help: I could listen to "Tears of Rage" a million times and still be riveted. But when left to their own devices, they simply cannot deliver on the same level, despite some attempts like "The Weight" and "Lonesome Suzie". These aren't bad songs, but they're both longer than they need to be. Even some of the shorter songs tend to drag a bit ("In a Station" comes to mind).
When I think of Music From Big Pink as a whole, I must admit that it is a very cohesive record. It has a sound all its own, while avoiding sounding particularly repetitive. Nevertheless, it's also a fairly plodding record where the only real standouts occur because of outside influence. And while the sound may be homely and authentic, it's not particularly grabbing or exciting. But enough of my complaining, Dave claims to like this album a lot, so maybe he'll say something different.
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