The Association - The Greatest Hits!
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Free Music Notes for The Greatest Hits!
Free Music Review: I Think I'm Out-reviewed
Hit: 5 Stars
Well I AM a boomer and thought I could stick it to them. However, I have never seen more sophisticated commentary by young people then what follows. I can add nothing.Free Music Review: I'm not a boomer, but...
Hit: 5 Stars
...this doesn't prevent me from enjoying this disc. I just love everything in it, from the inspired, high-spirited and lovely '60's summer-pop down to the rich, mellifluous and ethereal quality of the member's blended voices, as if they were fated to go with the other. My conclusion? The Association is a MILLION times better than most of the artists today, particularly those "manufactured" boy bands and girl groups my peers are endlessly shrieking at. Never mind if the band's ballads tend to be treacly, at least they're more intelligent, sincere (and closing more touch to the heart, so to speak) and charming compared to, say, the mostly dumb love songs we hear today. I agree with the ...critic who says something like their music doesn't stand the test of time too well. I know my situation is a very rare one, as very few of my generation knows (and not to mention enjoys) their stuff as I do--but nevertheless I really like this album. Musical tastes don't only occur among generations, but among individuals themselves as well.
So for those who want to know about the Association (or simply hear some great, pure pop music), "Greatest Hits" will be a fine introduction. My personal favorites here are "Everything That Touches You", "Time For Living", and "Cherish" and "Windy". From a 20-something like me, i'd say buy this album and I assure you you'll definitely enjoy it.
Free Music Review: Nice Collection Of Their Greatest Hits!
Hit: 4 Stars
The Association blends a wonderful sense for soaring harmonies with the sweet and sentimental touch of a series of somewhat sappy ballads to pile up an impressive list of top ten hits. And the songs are all quite good, albeit sugary, ranging from the upbeat "The Time It Is Today" to the dreamy "Everything That Touches You". I always considered the Association a re-morphed and reconstituted version of the Lettermen, a terrific trio that specialized in sappy love songs and looked like college preppies, even though the singers were probably in their mid-thirties. At any rate, their list of credits are quite impressive and even more memorable. Of course, their biggest hits were with efforts like "Never My Love', "Along Comes Mary", and the whopping mega-hit "Cherish". They also delivered a number of other popular songs such as "Windy", "No Fair At All", and several more minor hits. They still get considerable air play on the oldies stations, and I always like listening to "Windy", "Cherish", and "Never My Love". This may be saccharin sweet music, but it is super sweet music very well done. Enjoy!
Free Music Review: Some Splendid Songs
Hit: 4 Stars
The Association has all but faded into oblivion, but in their day, lest it need be said, they were quite something. Interestingly, the two hits that they are most remembered for, "Cherish" and "Never My Love", are relatively bland and formulaic compared to some of their other offerings.
When I was in my early teens, I would play "Along Comes Mary" again and again. I could not even discern the lyrics, much less understand what they meant- nor did I care what they meant. As it turns out, they consist of poetic references to marijuana (back when it was somewhat esoteric and outside the experience of most of the public). They could, however, just as easily have referred to (as a nun came forth to assert) the Biblical Mary, or even just a friend. It's too bad that "..Mary" doesn't get much airplay these days- it is a very clever and exciting song.
"Windy" was written by a young woman as an idealization of what she wanted herself to be. As such, it is moving and transcendent.
"Everything That Touches You" is so romantic. Has there ever been a song so adoring and exalting? It is lovely.
Later on (around the time of "Requiem.." and "Six Man Band") things started to get ugly, and the forces that supported the Association in bringing about beautiful music disappeared, but prior to that they'd produced fine examples of the powerful creativity and still-present innocence that was the 60s.
Free Music Review: It's just OK
Hit: 2 Stars
I admit that I, like most people, am mostly familiar with the Association through their hits, and I'm not familiar with their lesser-known tracks.I bought this album for some of the hits, especially for "Never My Love," which is easily my favorite track on the album. At the time of my purchase, I also liked "Cherish." To my ears now, however, that song sounds exceedingly wimpy and cloying.
In that respect, the rest of the album is worse. I really can't listen to any of the other songs on the album -- they're just way too precious and treacly for me. "Along Comes Mary" has a bit more grit to it, but in the end it boils down to a really corny coded reference to marijuana.
"Never My Love" still hits the spot for me -- that song is just beautiful -- but I can't really sit through any of this other stuff.