Classic Albums I have never heard

Unknown Soldier · 08-15-2013, 12:08 PM

Yep this is all bollocks trolly, you've had wimpy indie in that crappy milk boarding house mob and then Paul 'yawn' Simon, we all want Slayer and now! If not we'll stop reading and you won't like that.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-15-2013, 12:59 PM

The Batlord · 08-16-2013, 09:25 AM

Just get it over with TH. Or we'll start demanding you listen to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas.

Plankton · 08-16-2013, 10:06 AM

The scales... they are a tippin TH.

I think it's time.

Trollheart · 08-17-2013, 09:36 AM

And now, to quote an old Bryan Adams album title: "You want it, you got it!" By popular demand and for your entertainment, we present the Kerry King Quartet, with their very popular symphony for guitar, bass, drum and scream, "Reign in Blood", in Arrrrgghhh! Minor.

May the lord have mercy upon my poor ears!

Title: Reign in blood
Artiste: Slayer
Year: 1986
Chronological position: Third album
Previous experience of this artiste?: None, and I doubt I ever will again
Why is this considered a classic? Supposedly one of the big thrash metals albums of all time and the one that put Slayer on the map yadda yadda yadda...

My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Good
One track in --- Good
Halfway through --- Meh
Finished --- Meh

Comments: Oh holy good fuck! Well, I promised I'd do it and I can't show fear in the face of The Batlord, so here goes... Uh, what? The guy is not a growler? I assumed... oh hold on here a moment. Have I been misinformed? You know, I started with the amp down really low and I'm as surprised as anyone to be inching it back up a little. I'm as amazed as you to be saying this, but fuck if this is not too bad! Nowhere near as unintelligible as I had expected, certainly a lot more accessible than I was led to believe!

That is one FUCK of a solo by Kerry King at the end of "Angel of death"! No wonder The Batlord wanted him on his quest! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read his journal). Sorry for the language but I think it's merited when you're dealing with a band like this. Sound is pretty raw, and it's not really the kind of thing I'd be into but it's a whole lot better than Venom. After reviewing their albums for my NWOBHM article my ears were ringing for days. This is, not quite soothing compared to that but a lot easier on the ears.

That said, it's kind of passing by me without making any impression. I certainly wouldn't listen to this for fun or entertainment. But it's not the ordeal I had expected. Given that, it's also not a sudden revelation for me, and I won't be becoming a fan of Slayer any time soon.

Favourite track(s): Neither of these apply. I neither love nor hate any of this album; it just didn't make any real impression on me, tracks-wise.
Least favourite track(s):

Final impression --- Glad my ears are still attached to my head, but definitely not for me. Hope you're all happy now.

Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?

I'd say B, except I'm glad I at least now know what Slayer sound like. But given that, then probably E.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-17-2013, 06:08 PM

Well done.
Now put your slippers on, make yourself a nice mug of Horlicks and go listen to a Sting record old timer

Trollheart · 08-17-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Well done.
Now put your slippers on, make yourself a nice mug of Horlicks and go listen to a Sting record old timer

Eh? Speak up sonny! Can't hear a thing after listening to that young King fella!

Trollheart · 08-18-2013, 05:33 AM

Title: Fisherman's blues
Artiste: The Waterboys
Year: 1988
Chronological position: Fourth album
Previous experience of this artiste?: Pretty much just the singles really
Why is this considered a classic? It was where they changed their sound, bringing in more celtic influences. It was also their most successful album.

My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great
One track in --- Great
Halfway through --- Great
Finished --- Great

Comments: I know the opener of course, as anyone does, but I haven't heard this album all the way through: I may have dipped into it around the time it came out, again via my boss but I certainly didn't take any real notice of it. The violin is a little grating at times on "We will not be lovers", but I do like it. It's probably the mark of a good, even classic album that as you wait for the tracks you know, you hear others which are as good, or even better. And that's how I'm feeling, listening to this album. There's no sense of "when does song X come on?" It's more a sense of an overall experience, and when the songs come that I know, it'll be great but it's no trial to wait, as there is plenty of other good music to keep me entertained till then.

And speaking of what makes a good thing great, a song that goes on for nine minutes and doesn't become boring, in fact you wish it was longer? "And a bang on the ear" has long been one of my favourite Waterboys tracks, not that I know that many, and it's great to hear it again. Okay, I stand corrected: it's totally overstretched from about the seventh minute: there's no need for it to be this long, not that I'm complaining, but it does seem a little pointless to drag it out to these lengths. Oh well.

"Has anybody here seen Hank?" has a real Waits vibe about it, and I love the traditional "When will we be married?" Using poetry from Yeats for "The stolen child" would later lead to a whole album centred around the celebrated Irish poet's work, and the closer "This is your land" is one of my favourite Woodie Guthrie songs. All right: it's the ONLY Guthrie song I know. Happy? Love the Irish slant they put on it. Super.

Favourite track(s): Fisherman's blues, And a bang on the ear, Has anyone here seen ... ah feck it! Just everything again!
Least favourite track(s): See above

Final impression --- Great album that makes me want to listen to more Waterboys, though I am concerned that this was seen as a change in their musical direction, so that previous albums might not give me the same payoff...

Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?

It's another A!

The Batlord · 08-19-2013, 08:25 AM

Wait, so you'd never even listened to Slayer before? I'd assumed your distaste was at least based on experience. Shame, shame, shame, oh close-minded one. And how does a young male go through the eighties without ever listening to Slayer anyway?

Plankton · 08-20-2013, 10:23 AM

As far as the Slayer review, I'd say you gave it an honest assessment for that album. I know many people will disagree when I say that it's probably not their best work as they had grown a bit more as a band through the years (as one would expect). But to start there is certainly keeping true to what their sound really is all about. Kudos to you TH for even taking the time.

08-15-2013, 12:59 PM	#152 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	__________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

08-16-2013, 10:06 AM	#154 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,766	The scales... they are a tippin TH. I think it's time. __________________ See location...

08-17-2013, 09:36 AM	#155 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	And now, to quote an old Bryan Adams album title: "You want it, you got it!" By popular demand and for your entertainment, we present the Kerry King Quartet, with their very popular symphony for guitar, bass, drum and scream, "Reign in Blood", in Arrrrgghhh! Minor. May the lord have mercy upon my poor ears! Title: Reign in blood Artiste: Slayer Year: 1986 Chronological position: Third album Previous experience of this artiste?: None, and I doubt I ever will again Why is this considered a classic? Supposedly one of the big thrash metals albums of all time and the one that put Slayer on the map yadda yadda yadda... My thoughts One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Good One track in --- Good Halfway through --- Meh Finished --- Meh Comments: Oh holy good fuck! Well, I promised I'd do it and I can't show fear in the face of The Batlord, so here goes... Uh, what? The guy is not a growler? I assumed... oh hold on here a moment. Have I been misinformed? You know, I started with the amp down really low and I'm as surprised as anyone to be inching it back up a little. I'm as amazed as you to be saying this, but fuck if this is not too bad! Nowhere near as unintelligible as I had expected, certainly a lot more accessible than I was led to believe! That is one FUCK of a solo by Kerry King at the end of "Angel of death"! No wonder The Batlord wanted him on his quest! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read his journal). Sorry for the language but I think it's merited when you're dealing with a band like this. Sound is pretty raw, and it's not really the kind of thing I'd be into but it's a whole lot better than Venom. After reviewing their albums for my NWOBHM article my ears were ringing for days. This is, not quite soothing compared to that but a lot easier on the ears. That said, it's kind of passing by me without making any impression. I certainly wouldn't listen to this for fun or entertainment. But it's not the ordeal I had expected. Given that, it's also not a sudden revelation for me, and I won't be becoming a fan of Slayer any time soon. Favourite track(s): Neither of these apply. I neither love nor hate any of this album; it just didn't make any real impression on me, tracks-wise. Least favourite track(s): Final impression --- Glad my ears are still attached to my head, but definitely not for me. Hope you're all happy now. Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner B) I'm sorry I bothered C) I might end up liking this D) Have to wait and see E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic? F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic? I'd say B, except I'm glad I at least now know what Slayer sound like. But given that, then probably E. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-17-2013, 06:08 PM	#156 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Well done. Now put your slippers on, make yourself a nice mug of Horlicks and go listen to a Sting record old timer __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

08-18-2013, 05:33 AM	#158 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Fisherman's blues Artiste: The Waterboys Year: 1988 Chronological position: Fourth album Previous experience of this artiste?: Pretty much just the singles really Why is this considered a classic? It was where they changed their sound, bringing in more celtic influences. It was also their most successful album. My thoughts One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great One track in --- Great Halfway through --- Great Finished --- Great Comments: I know the opener of course, as anyone does, but I haven't heard this album all the way through: I may have dipped into it around the time it came out, again via my boss but I certainly didn't take any real notice of it. The violin is a little grating at times on "We will not be lovers", but I do like it. It's probably the mark of a good, even classic album that as you wait for the tracks you know, you hear others which are as good, or even better. And that's how I'm feeling, listening to this album. There's no sense of "when does song X come on?" It's more a sense of an overall experience, and when the songs come that I know, it'll be great but it's no trial to wait, as there is plenty of other good music to keep me entertained till then. And speaking of what makes a good thing great, a song that goes on for nine minutes and doesn't become boring, in fact you wish it was longer? "And a bang on the ear" has long been one of my favourite Waterboys tracks, not that I know that many, and it's great to hear it again. Okay, I stand corrected: it's totally overstretched from about the seventh minute: there's no need for it to be this long, not that I'm complaining, but it does seem a little pointless to drag it out to these lengths. Oh well. "Has anybody here seen Hank?" has a real Waits vibe about it, and I love the traditional "When will we be married?" Using poetry from Yeats for "The stolen child" would later lead to a whole album centred around the celebrated Irish poet's work, and the closer "This is your land" is one of my favourite Woodie Guthrie songs. All right: it's the ONLY Guthrie song I know. Happy? Love the Irish slant they put on it. Super. Favourite track(s): Fisherman's blues, And a bang on the ear, Has anyone here seen ... ah feck it! Just everything again! Least favourite track(s): See above Final impression --- Great album that makes me want to listen to more Waterboys, though I am concerned that this was seen as a change in their musical direction, so that previous albums might not give me the same payoff... Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner B) I'm sorry I bothered C) I might end up liking this D) Have to wait and see E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic? F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic? It's another A! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-20-2013, 10:23 AM	#160 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,766	As far as the Slayer review, I'd say you gave it an honest assessment for that album. I know many people will disagree when I say that it's probably not their best work as they had grown a bit more as a band through the years (as one would expect). But to start there is certainly keeping true to what their sound really is all about. Kudos to you TH for even taking the time. __________________ See location...