#433: Another Green World- Brian Eno

Listened to: MP3

Who’s super-psyched for primarily instrumental music from Brian Eno? So, ok, that sounds less fun than I think it’s gonna be. Look, if readers have been taught anything by this, it should be that preconceived notions about an album’s quality should be abandoned. So, set aside all your doubts, and open your mind as we move into Another Green World.

If you had any fear this album wasn’t gonna be some interesting, fun compositional brilliance, the opening track “Sky Saw” should set you straight. From Eno’s free form lyrics to the distorted sliding notes, the opening song sets the tone for an album that’s genius should be recognized from the outset (despite being panned by some critics in it’s early days). Each track s a unique soundscape, with Eno using notes to create an impressionist painting on your ears. The album cover does a lot to set the tone of the album. This is the kind of album that should be accompanied by Rothkos or Magrittes. It’s true modern art, without being pretentious. Each track, from the fun, colorful, upbeat “St. Elmo’s Fire” to the bleak, damp, brooding Francis-Bacon-esque “In Dark Trees”, Eno crafts universes of sound that exist within these tracks, and the instrumentals conjure more images in the mind than even the finest poet’s lyrics.

There is not a track out of place on this album. It is a masterpiece to whom modern day bands like Grandaddy and Sigur Ros owe a remarkable debt. This is an album to lay down on the stereo, turn of the lights, lie back and dream. The world Brian Eno builds within your mind will shine so beautifully you’ll never want the album to end. Definitely worth a listen.

-Mike

Next up, #111: Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell

#394: For Your Pleasure- Roxy Music

Listened to: MP3

Well, the album doesn’t waste time with intros, and goes straight into “Do The Strand”. For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music is considered a fantastic album, and on of Morrissey’s favorites, so I’m more than happy to give it a chance. It features famed producer Brian Eno, which explains how this is basically the British equivalent of the Talking Heads. Now, this ain’t really my dig, but I can definitely see a young Stefani Germanotta listening to this. Littered in the first track are references to things like The Mona Lisa and Lolita, proving Roxy Music to be full of frustrated intellectuals making weird music for the hell of it. The second track, “Beauty Queen”, not only feature Bryan Ferry sounding like Mandy Patankin, but happens to be a little more of a mainstream track. It’s like Andrew Lloyd Webber on only a bit of Quaaludes. I’ll tell you the truth, I wasn’t looking forward to this album (every reviewer is biased, I’m just gonna wear mine on my sleeve), but two tracks in, and I’m really enjoying this album. Bryan Ferry has a phenomenal sense of composition, and Brian Eno’s hand is more than a little obvious in som of the effects and mixing, but they compliment each other so well it stops them from getting too…weird, as would happen with Eno’s work with David Byrne. “Strictly Confidential” keeps that ALW vibe, and has a dark, mystical feel mixed with a pop-ballad tone that’s something really special, and makes for a truly musically dynamic track that doesn’t go all over the place.

“Editions Of You” has a synth that surely sounded kick-ass at the time, even though it now sounds like an old Sega game soundtrack. After a few seconds of solely the synth, the guitars kick in and play a real hard rock song which caught me totally by surprise considering this album’s “indie-before-there-was-indie” feel, but this track is less hipster and more Springsteen, especially with that saxophone. Again, I always respect an album in which a band shows it’s range.

So…yeah. No way around it, this song’s about a blow-up doll. “In Every Dream Home A Heartache” is one of the most original tracks I have ever heard, with it’s half-spoken melody-monologue, it’s creepy organ sounds, and the way it fades out and re-enters. This truly is an incredible song, and one I intend to listen to over and over again. I’m anxious to finish my review, now, just to go back to this track. “Bogus Man” uses flangers and other audio effects to the extreme, and the double vocals have an eery feel to them that only add to the chilling vibe of this track. “Grey Lagoons” sounds like it fell right off the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, and is a short, sweet 4:15 after the epically long “Bogus Man”. The rock guitar only adds to the overall classic 70’s vibe to this brilliantly display of musical range. The album ends on the title track, which begins with what sounds like birds chirping and a soft vocal melody that sounds like it belongs on an old Jefferson Airplane record, or some other relic from the summer of love. Midway through, the piano comes in, and the song takes on a totally new life. It concludes just as it began, in that lilting classic voice, and in this tone, one of the most mind-blowing and revitalizing musical experiences I’ve had in a while comes to a close.

Once again, I’ve proven to myself to reserve judgment. This was an incredible album to experience, and it is ranked criminally low. Everyone should give this album a listen, it’s highly worth it, and I look forward to more Roxy Music to come.

-Mike

Tomorrow brings one of the personal favorites, #44: Horses by Patti Smith.