A life unraveled: My musical journey

Black Francis · 03-16-2015, 08:37 AM

If you're already familiar with the film or George's solo career and his personal life you should be familiar with this album

If you're not or haven't watched the film this next part will make little sense to you.

I JUST starting listening to this album so im not gonna give it a full review yet BUT i do want to point the weird spiritual attraction i have for this album.

Paul can write you a pop hit
John can sing to you about peace
But George wants you to take the spiritual road.

Now to be honest, im not a fan of spiritual OR religious music. im an agnostic borderline atheist who barely believes in anything and due to this ive developed a sort of spiritual void a "Godless void" if you will where i barely feel anything.

But here is where this song comes in and hits me with the feels

I mean look at him, he even looks like Jesus. how can i NOT be moved?

Black Francis · 03-16-2015, 08:38 AM

I find myself listening to that song over and over again. Not only do i luv the bassline, i luv the positive message in it.. it resonates true.

There is something about chanting that eases my soul.
it feels uncorrupted and pure, im not a christian but that song makes me want the spiritual fulfillment they have which is weird cause i didn't know i wanted that.

Apart from that song, the other song im familiar with from that album is wah wah

I dig the guitar riffs and the overall composition of this song.
this the first song George recorded after leaving the Beatles and you can tell.

So in conclusion,

I have a cap limit and this is why it took me 3 post to explain all this sh*t.

Im getting into George Harrison for spiritual reasons.

I will review the album once ive finished it.

Black Francis · 03-20-2015, 08:38 AM

This is a fairly long album and to be honest and i don't like every song in it so instead of forcing a rushed review im just gonna talk about the tracks i like in it as im listening to it

Im starting to think George was in fact jesus himself and he could walk on water and swim on land.

You can feel his search for enlightenment in his songs and it feels honest not pretentious. like i said, the main reason i was drawn to this album is because of its spiritual aspect and songs like this one examplify how George brilliantly conveyed that feeling.

Another song im keen to is this one

Arrangement wise the song is not that impressive, its a pretty standard ballad that kinda reminded of John's solo stuff however the feeling and the lyrics are pretty and they kinda mirror my personal life atm.

I can say that about alot of songs in this album actually, George is the Beatle that gets me. i always thought it was John but George's music moves me more

Black Francis · 03-24-2015, 10:33 AM

This album is exceeding my expectations even the songs i don't like aren't bad.

There is a song in the album called Run of the mill that despite being a bit weak in comparison to other songs in the album has a pretty interesting music arrangement with prolonged AND abrupt time signatures.

The drumming in the song is pretty creative too, chekit out if you like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEA2pI41YVg

It doesn't feel like a spiritual song but i like it

this one though, i love

I think i heard this song in the past but didn't know who made it, the musical arrangement is reminiscent of the beatles yet the vocals and lyrics feel they're coming from George's personal stand point.

When he says "The pain that often mingles" the music perfectly captures the vulnerability of the vocals and the sorrow he was trying to portray.

I would say this track is one of the stronger ones in the album and though it feels more introspective than spiritual, it is still great

ribbons · 03-29-2015, 02:00 PM

Hi, Francis. I saw your post in Trollheart’s journals summary thread about George and am delighted to see your posts here about All Things Must Pass. Even though, like you, I don’t like every single song on it, this album more than any other has meant so much to me personally. I am a very spiritual person and it was this record that led me to independent study of Hinduism/Vedanta in my early teens. To this day my shelves are filled with books on Indian philosophy and religion, including many translations of the Bhagavad Gita which I consider my spiritual source book. Even if one is not particularly spiritual, I believe ATMP has an impressionistic musical power that can move one’s heart to enlightenment, whatever one’s definition of enlightenment may be.

Besides, George’s slide guitar playing on this record is beautiful. George’s slide guitar is for me one of the most beautiful sounds in music, so lyrical and influenced by his sitar studies under Ravi Shankar.

My favorite songs in order of appearance are “I’d Have You Anytime”, “My Sweet Lord”, “Let It Down”, “Run of the Mill”, “Beware of Darkness”, “Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)”, “Awaiting on You All”, and “Hear Me Lord”.

“Beware of Darkness” is probably my favorite of all – the lyrics that move me are, “It can hit you / It can hurt you / Make you sore, and what is more / That is not what you are here for.”

Rock Dream #1: Wish I could’ve been at this concert! The Concert for Bangla Desh was actually the first album I dropped needle-to-vinyl on by myself as a child, the sounds of the Indian musicians’ playing radiating from our family’s console stereo.

Pet_Sounds · 03-29-2015, 04:06 PM

Nice review. George is my favourite Beatle, and All Things Must Pass is my favourite solo Beatles album.

Black Francis · 03-30-2015, 06:27 AM

Thnx guys, appreciate the comments.

i was starting to think i was the only that luved this album, @Pet he's my favorite beatle too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribbons

Even if one is not particularly spiritual, I believe ATMP has an impressionistic musical power that can move one’s heart to enlightenment, whatever one’s definition of enlightenment may be.

Well said, this is exactly how i feel about the album as well.
We like most of the same songs too and i agree that George played a great sliding guitar but what surprises me is the vocals of the album.

They don't have alot of range but they have an honest feeling and a good message and personally im developing a taste for his voice.

i say this cause i mostly saw George as a guitarist before, not a singer.

Oriphiel · 03-30-2015, 08:18 AM

I love George's work with The Beatles, but I've never actually listened to any of his solo albums before. I'll definitely be listening to them soon.

Black Francis · 03-30-2015, 11:06 PM

^ i highly suggest you give all things must pass a try Ori, im done listening to the whole album and i can honestly say it's a great one.

Before i end this review, i encourage ppl to listen to this album and pick they're own favorite songs.
Mine are based simply on my preference and there's alot of songs on the album i didn't talk about

To finish i wanna cover I dig love because this track although not as strong as other tracks takes a more bare minimalistic approach i find the album needed

I like this track, it's simple.
this album has alot of over laying instrumentation that can be a little much at times.

And lastly and super off related, the song Art of dying have vocals that i find sound ALOT like Kevin barnes vocals.

Im gonna take a wild guess and say that songs like this one probably inspired them because the double vocals used in this song right away reminded me of his vocal style.

Black Francis · 04-01-2015, 01:29 PM

From George im gonna move on to a group i recently discovered by sheer curiosity in foreign music,

Kas Product

the duo consists of Spatsz on rhythm and Mona Soyoc on guitar, vocals and piano. Spatsz worked at a psychiatric hospital previously while Mona worked with a jazz band

I was looking for french new wave bands and i got a hold of YT playlist on that genre and among all the groups on the playlist Kas product to me stood out as the best.

i wanna make clear first, Kas product is labeled as Coldwave/minimal wave so they're not exactly New wave

Im gonna be reviewing 3 albums from them

Try out (Debut album 1982)

By pass (2nd album 1983)

Black & Noir (4th album 1990)

03-16-2015, 08:37 AM	#41 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	If you're already familiar with the film or George's solo career and his personal life you should be familiar with this album If you're not or haven't watched the film this next part will make little sense to you. I JUST starting listening to this album so im not gonna give it a full review yet BUT i do want to point the weird spiritual attraction i have for this album. Paul can write you a pop hit John can sing to you about peace But George wants you to take the spiritual road. Now to be honest, im not a fan of spiritual OR religious music. im an agnostic borderline atheist who barely believes in anything and due to this ive developed a sort of spiritual void a "Godless void" if you will where i barely feel anything. But here is where this song comes in and hits me with the feels I mean look at him, he even looks like Jesus. how can i NOT be moved? __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

03-16-2015, 08:38 AM	#42 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	I find myself listening to that song over and over again. Not only do i luv the bassline, i luv the positive message in it.. it resonates true. There is something about chanting that eases my soul. it feels uncorrupted and pure, im not a christian but that song makes me want the spiritual fulfillment they have which is weird cause i didn't know i wanted that. Apart from that song, the other song im familiar with from that album is wah wah I dig the guitar riffs and the overall composition of this song. this the first song George recorded after leaving the Beatles and you can tell. So in conclusion, I have a cap limit and this is why it took me 3 post to explain all this sht. Im getting into George Harrison for spiritual reasons. I will review the album once ive finished it. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!"* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

03-20-2015, 08:38 AM	#43 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	This is a fairly long album and to be honest and i don't like every song in it so instead of forcing a rushed review im just gonna talk about the tracks i like in it as im listening to it Im starting to think George was in fact jesus himself and he could walk on water and swim on land. You can feel his search for enlightenment in his songs and it feels honest not pretentious. like i said, the main reason i was drawn to this album is because of its spiritual aspect and songs like this one examplify how George brilliantly conveyed that feeling. Another song im keen to is this one Arrangement wise the song is not that impressive, its a pretty standard ballad that kinda reminded of John's solo stuff however the feeling and the lyrics are pretty and they kinda mirror my personal life atm. I can say that about alot of songs in this album actually, George is the Beatle that gets me. i always thought it was John but George's music moves me more __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

03-24-2015, 10:33 AM	#44 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	This album is exceeding my expectations even the songs i don't like aren't bad. There is a song in the album called Run of the mill that despite being a bit weak in comparison to other songs in the album has a pretty interesting music arrangement with prolonged AND abrupt time signatures. The drumming in the song is pretty creative too, chekit out if you like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEA2pI41YVg It doesn't feel like a spiritual song but i like it this one though, i love I think i heard this song in the past but didn't know who made it, the musical arrangement is reminiscent of the beatles yet the vocals and lyrics feel they're coming from George's personal stand point. When he says "The pain that often mingles" the music perfectly captures the vulnerability of the vocals and the sorrow he was trying to portray. I would say this track is one of the stronger ones in the album and though it feels more introspective than spiritual, it is still great __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A Last edited by Black Francis; 03-26-2015 at 09:05 AM.

03-29-2015, 04:06 PM	#46 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,489	Nice review. George is my favourite Beatle, and All Things Must Pass is my favourite solo Beatles album. __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease

03-29-2015, 02:00 PM	#45 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	Hi, Francis. I saw your post in Trollheart’s journals summary thread about George and am delighted to see your posts here about All Things Must Pass. Even though, like you, I don’t like every single song on it, this album more than any other has meant so much to me personally. I am a very spiritual person and it was this record that led me to independent study of Hinduism/Vedanta in my early teens. To this day my shelves are filled with books on Indian philosophy and religion, including many translations of the Bhagavad Gita which I consider my spiritual source book. Even if one is not particularly spiritual, I believe ATMP has an impressionistic musical power that can move one’s heart to enlightenment, whatever one’s definition of enlightenment may be. Besides, George’s slide guitar playing on this record is beautiful. George’s slide guitar is for me one of the most beautiful sounds in music, so lyrical and influenced by his sitar studies under Ravi Shankar. My favorite songs in order of appearance are “I’d Have You Anytime”, “My Sweet Lord”, “Let It Down”, “Run of the Mill”, “Beware of Darkness”, “Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)”, “Awaiting on You All”, and “Hear Me Lord”. “Beware of Darkness” is probably my favorite of all – the lyrics that move me are, “It can hit you / It can hurt you / Make you sore, and what is more / That is not what you are here for.” Rock Dream #1: Wish I could’ve been at this concert! The Concert for Bangla Desh was actually the first album I dropped needle-to-vinyl on by myself as a child, the sounds of the Indian musicians’ playing radiating from our family’s console stereo.

03-30-2015, 08:18 AM	#48 (permalink)
Oriphiel Ask me how! Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: The States Posts: 5,355	I love George's work with The Beatles, but I've never actually listened to any of his solo albums before. I'll definitely be listening to them soon. __________________ ---------------------- \|---Mic's Albums---\| ---------------------- ----------------------------- \|---Deafbox Industries---\| -----------------------------

03-30-2015, 11:06 PM	#49 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	^ i highly suggest you give all things must pass a try Ori, im done listening to the whole album and i can honestly say it's a great one. Before i end this review, i encourage ppl to listen to this album and pick they're own favorite songs. Mine are based simply on my preference and there's alot of songs on the album i didn't talk about To finish i wanna cover I dig love because this track although not as strong as other tracks takes a more bare minimalistic approach i find the album needed I like this track, it's simple. this album has alot of over laying instrumentation that can be a little much at times. And lastly and super off related, the song Art of dying have vocals that i find sound ALOT like Kevin barnes vocals. Im gonna take a wild guess and say that songs like this one probably inspired them because the double vocals used in this song right away reminded me of his vocal style. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

04-01-2015, 01:29 PM	#50 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	From George im gonna move on to a group i recently discovered by sheer curiosity in foreign music, Kas Product the duo consists of Spatsz on rhythm and Mona Soyoc on guitar, vocals and piano. Spatsz worked at a psychiatric hospital previously while Mona worked with a jazz band I was looking for french new wave bands and i got a hold of YT playlist on that genre and among all the groups on the playlist Kas product to me stood out as the best. i wanna make clear first, Kas product is labeled as Coldwave/minimal wave so they're not exactly New wave Im gonna be reviewing 3 albums from them Try out (Debut album 1982) By pass (2nd album 1983) Black & Noir (4th album 1990) __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A Last edited by Black Francis; 04-01-2015 at 02:03 PM.