The Band - Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: (4.5 stars) Hell yeah
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, it's not perfect: I'd have rather had the powerhouse live Don't Do It and the chilling ballad Whispering Pines than the terrible cover of When I Paint My Masterpiece (Dylan's original is so much better!), and the miserable Saga of Petoute Rogue, from the equally miserable Islands album. All told though, this is THE place to start with the Band. You get most the best from the first record (which is a must) and the self-titled (which is another must), all the best from Stage Fright (which is decent) and Cahoots (which isn't the best Band album by any means), most the best from Northern Lights - Southern Cross (which is underrated and NOT just a bunch of synthesizer crap, but a collection of solid songs), and only one song from Islands (which is a waste of our time). You get ALL the classics: The Weight, Chest Fever, Tears of Rage, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up on Cripple Creek (their best song in my never humble, usually outspoken opinion), Rag Mama Rag, The Shape I'm In (Oh... you don't know...), Life is a Carnival and Ophelia (love that tuba!) all on the same album. I mean, how can you go wrong with this one? How can you miss? If you're only gonna get one Band CD, you might want to make it this one - if you like what you hear, get the first two.Free Music Review: I LOVE THE BAND, so I LOVE THIS ALBUM!
Hit: 5 Stars
Why? Well, The Weight, I Shall Be Released, Up On Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, It Makes No Difference, and Arcadian Driftwood are here, plus others.
Listen to this album and experience beautifully written lyrics, beautiful musical collaboration, and a variety of voices and vocal styles.
Stories are told through these songs. I particularly admire The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down because it tells remarkably heart felt story of the Civil Wars effect on the South. Coming from a Canadian band, this seems odd at first, but to hear it is to know compassion and humanity.
It Makes No Difference may be my favorite song though, as the story of a break-ups ravaging effect is beautifully evoked: "...and the Sun don't shine anymore...and the rain falls down on my door..."
There is terrific, funny juxtaposition I love on When I Paint My Masterpiece, which tells of a trip to the Coliseum in Rome, where he has a vision amidst the ruins of: "...dodging lions, and wasting time..."
For lovers of the film The Last Waltz, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and of course, Bob Dylan, this album serves as a terrific collection of superb music from a legendary band.
Free Music Review: All the most essential tracks are here
Hit: 5 Stars
There are a lot of "best of" and "greatest hits" compilations out there that exclude at least one or two essential tracks. I've always thought that this is done in an attempt to get you to buy other of the groups' CDs. But if you want to own only one compact disc by the Band, then this is an excellent choice, although I'd recommend the Band's two-disc compilation, TO KINGDOM COME - THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION, even more.
Of the eighteen tracks, I would have not included only two: "Time to Kill" and "Ain't Got No Home". Instead, in their place, I would have included "Mystery Train" and "Daniel and the Sacred Harp". But the other sixteen are just about the Band's best sixteen.
The Amazon reviewer, Andrew Bartlett, claims that the music on this CD "declines rather steeply on the final tracks" including "Acadian Driftwood"; however, "Acadian Driftwood" is one of the Band's most beautiful, heartfelt and moving songs. It's a personal favorite, and I'm sure it's a favorite of many of you out there. The Band didn't "decline". Music changed but, thankfully, the Band stayed the same.
Free Music Review: Great Compilation
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this CD. The Band's music is just outstanding. "The Weight", "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" are the major hits on here but some of the lesser known songs to the casual fan are just as great. "Chest Fever" is just too cool. "It Makes No Difference" will almost bring a tear to your eye. "Ophelia" and "Rag Mama Rag" make you want to party. My favorite is still "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Being born and raised in the south as my father and his father before, this song holds a special place to me and gives me chills everytime I listen to it. Amazing that Robbie Robertson, a Canadian, could capture so much of the emotion and pain from the point of view of a Conferate soldier after the Civil War has ended. He doesn't get into the right/wrong part of it like alot of artists who arent' from the south do(I'm talking about you Neil Young), he just writes the song from the point of view of having everything you've known and your entire way of life being changed forever. If you only own one album by The Band this should be it.
Free Music Review: Band's best has never sounded better!
Hit: 5 Stars
In 2000 the entire Band catalog was remastered. Greatest Hits collections usually leave some fans unsatisfied...why this song and not that (as you see in some reviews here). . I have to say, this selection of songs is just a pitch perfect represetation of the best music from this amazing group. The songwriting, the 'story songs' the intricate playing, harmonies, the best of the best is all here. Imagine crossing Procol Harum's majesty and chops with Creedence's American country roots vibe (i.e "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down) and The sound is astonishing. The kick drum and bass have a richness and power that has never been heard before. The remasters really honor the Band's great legacy. A great place to start if you're interested in the Band. Makes me want to replace all my Band CDs with the 2000 remasters. All music fans young and old, you owe it to yourself to include this part of rock history in your music collection.