Neapolitan

Besame Mucho


not really Elvis.

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Psy-Fi

Elvis returns to his roots with an album of country covers. The song selection covers a variety of country styles (Western swing, honky tonk, bluegrass, rockabilly, and more) and features songs by some of the most well-known country artists of the 50's and 60's (Willie Nelson, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Lee Hazlewood, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, Hank Cochran, and many more.)
With Elvis, it was all about his voice and he doesn't disappoint for a second on this album. The range, the dynamics, the soul, the intensity, are all there throughout every song on the album. Top-notch musicianship and excellent production from start to finish, combined with the vocals, makes this one a winner.

My only complaint with the album is the way snippets of a song ("I'm 10,000 Years Old") keep fading in and out after every track on the album. I found that to be a bit of a distraction/annoyance while I was listening to it. I would've preferred it if the song had just been added to the album in it's entirety as one of the album's tracks.

An interesting pick from Elvis Presley's discography. 8/10

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She's a Brick House

OccultHawk

Thank you.

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Black Francis

I have to Echo what Psy fi said, this album was cut pretty bad but the actual productions of the songs are legit. I started to appreciate that on the second song Tommorow Never Comes which actually made me laugh a bit cause Elvis wanted to hit those powerful emotional pitches to the point he sounds like an opera singer at the end. It gave me a chuckle but at the same time i was like, **** yea.

His voice has a lot of character, i particularly like it in his more upbeat songs like Whole Lotta Shaking Going On and The Fool but on his slow paced ballads his voice is kinda off putting for me but it all depends on the song cause sometimes i like it. My fav song from this album was It's Your Baby, You Rock It cause that bass is dope and the backup vocals sound all 50's and dream like.

Like 7/10

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Trollheart

I finally got around to listening to this album, and I loved it. Totally first-rate, not a bad track. My only gripe is that stupid idea of fading in and out the song "I'm 10,000 years old". What the hell is that about? Ruined it, almost. But not quite. I'd give this a 10 except for that annoying idea, so it gets 9.9. Un-ass-ail-able.

And I don't even like Elvis!

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Trollheart

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?

Oh yeah, I love this song!

2. What did you think of the opening track?

See above

3. What did you think of the next track?

Loved this too. There wasn't really any track on the album I didn't love.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)

Um, it's Elvis?

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)

Yeah, I like this kind of outlaw/bluegrass country with a shot of sentimentality to tone it down. Superb.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?

Better

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?

Ah they're country standards. What can you say?

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)

What little there was, yes, very much.

9. What did you think of the production?

N/A

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?

I may have heard of him somewhere. Didn't he have a band called The Attractions?

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?

I like country, I'm no fan of Elvis though, but here the two mesh perfectly.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?


Only had time to listen once, but I imagine it would improve with every subsequent listen.

13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?

Hard to say. I'll go with “Snowbird”, but also “Make the World Go Away”, “Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Funny How Time Slips Away”.

14. And the one(s) you liked least?

N/A

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)

N/A

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?

I still don't like Elvis, as I hate rockabilly music, but I'm thinking maybe something like his gospel work might be worth checking out?

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?

Very much so. I expected to hate it, not being an Elvis fan.

18. Did the album end well?



Yeah I like the sentimental ballad that ends it.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?

Take out those ****ing samples of that “I Was Born 10,000 Years Ago” song! Really ****ing annoying and completely, as far as I can see, pointless.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?

A decent selection of country standards.

9.9/10

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