The Explain Why You Like This Album ('cause i don't understand) Thread (albums, pink floyd)

[Rainard Jalen]

Alright, here's one. Somebody help meh out! Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On: heralded by many as one of the best albums of the 1970s, I don't see how it's even one of the best FUNK albums of the 70s. I'm not even sure it's the best SLY album of the 70s. I've listened to it at least a dozen times. All I took away from it is that:

- it has about 3 very good songs,
- and another 35 or so minutes of what might as well be background music for a bar or a movie, devoid of any real hooks or anything particularly memorable
- the icing on the cake is that all of those non-singles tracks seem like some sort of great shameless drug-infused mess - which was probably never supposed to happen in the first place

So...am I missing something? Enlighten me.

[Roygbiv]

Originally Posted by Rainard Jalen

Alright, here's one. Somebody help meh out! Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On: heralded by many as one of the best albums of the 1970s, I don't see how it's even one of the best FUNK albums of the 70s. I'm not even sure it's the best SLY album of the 70s. I've listened to it at least a dozen times. All I took away from it is that:

- it has about 3 very good songs,
- and another 35 or so minutes of what might as well be background music for a bar or a movie, devoid of any real hooks or anything particularly memorable
- the icing on the cake is that all of those non-singles tracks seem like some sort of great shameless drug-infused mess - which was probably never supposed to happen in the first place

So...am I missing something? Enlighten me.

Apparently it's all about the story behind the album. It was an uncanny time for Sly, and a controversial statement back in the day, especially for a big record company. It's all about the mystery that surrounds it. I would definitely recommend reading Continuum's 33 1/3 series, the one that focuses on this particular record. I didn't, and perhaps that's why I share in your sentiment. The above is just what I've heard.

My contribution to the thread:

[Brad Stengel]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Apart from the title track I find this album to be totally forgettable. And I think it's influence on punk far too overstated and it's all a bit too muso to be considered in that area of music for my liking.

Marquee Moon is a grower. I loved 'See No Evil' when I first heard it, and thought 'Venus' was okay. Apart from that I held the same opinion as you. And then slowly over time, people would mention tracks, saying how awesome "Prove It" was. And I never noticed it before, but there it was! A great song tucked in at the end of the album. Same happened with the title track, and then I started listening to the album all the way through, and began to love every second of it.

It's much like Pet Sounds, another album you have a distaste for. Basically my favorite parts of Marquee Moon are those moments when the lead guitar, vocal line, and guitar chords merge perfectly to make a part in a song that gives you goosebumps, something you can't explain to someone, something you either feel, or you don't, and the same goes for Pet Sounds.

Originally Posted by Roygbiv

My contribution to the thread:

Sgt. Pepper's allure is the epicness of it all. It leads with the title track, the most 'rock' of the Beatles catalog at that point in time, flows brilliantly into the great "A Little Help From My Friends", which the chorus really makes from me, goes into the classic, "LSD", and then my favorite song, "Getting Better" with its army of out of tune guitars.

This album was never overplayed for me before I got it, somehow. And the majority of the albums I love follow this formula, First song sets things up, second song is solid, basically the first four songs are untouchable, and it closes with a massive epic. Lots of albums from 'Who's Next' to 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' to 'Microcastle' do this, and its a great way to do a tracklisting for a great album.

Sgt. Peppers, basically, has alot of solid Bealtes songs, and even some greats you don't hear too often, such as the psychadelic carnival ride of "Mr. Kite" and the 'Pet Sounds' pandering of "She's Leaving Home". It's eclectic, has great melodies, and closes with the Beatles' best song, and that's why I love it.

[asshat]

Originally Posted by 5-Track

Amazing record... the tones are unbelievable, analog mess at it's gloriousest... It sounds like it was recorded at home on a 4-track, twenty years before that was in vogue... no compression, all the levels pegged, no gratuitous displays of musicianship... just minimalist groove, raw semi-conscious slurred melody, and attitude so thick you can smell it (real attitude DOESN'T get right in your face... because it doesn't care about your face)

Riot was my favorite pot smoking record a few years back. The songs were sort of half-assed, but the grooves were so thick.Probably one of my all time favourites. Time is the greatest mopey song of all time.