The Band - The Band
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Free Music Notes for The Band
Free Music Review: AMERICANA part 2 ****1/2
Hit: 5 Stars
Before record executives and labels pushed successful bands to release a dozen singles off each record and wait 5 years between albums, 60's groups were putting out classics at an alarming rate. The Band must of known their artistic output was reaching a peak and put out two of the most memorable, masterful rock albums of all time between 1968 and 1969. Though their second album "The Band" pales slightly in comparison to the debut, these 12 songs are very bit as memorable.
Robbie Robertson famously heard Southerners talking about the way things used to be and was inspired to write a concept album on the subject, i.e. the Old South. Even the titles suggest that. But "Across the Great divide," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and "Up on Cripple Creek" are drenched in Southern folk-lore, from the lyrics to the music and everything else about the album (the production, the style, even the cover). Classic cuts like "King Harvest" and "Rag Mama Rag" are just as astonishing today for young listeners (myself being one of them) as they must have been in the late 60's. Unfortunately, the magic began to dwindle after this album. But we'll always have this, Big Pink, and the Rock of Ages live album. That alone makes them remarkable.
Overall: 9 out fo 10.
Free Music Review: Great music! The problem is in the liner notes
Hit: 5 Stars
No argument. This is among the all-time great albums of the rock era.
The problem comes from the conflict between Robbie Roberston and (mainly) Levon Helm.
Most people are familiar with the argument, but basically it is that Robertson takes an inordinately large amount of credit for the music of The Band. There are supporters on both sides of the argument, but the fact that Helm insists it was much more collaborative among them all appeals to me and he offers compelling arguments in his book, "This Wheel's On Fire."
In the liner notes to "The Band" the only member represented is Robertson whose statements are all "I" statements. Things begin to sound implausible when he talks about doing historical research before writing, by himself, "Dixie." He goes further on saying that Helm's contribution to that song was to provide a "cracker" perspective which enabled Robertson to write the lyrics more authentically.
When we look at the incredible scope and imagination put into The Band's music and lyrics (and that did not fully disappear with Robertson's exit) and compare it to Robertson's mediocre solo work, Helm's argument for collaboration gets a boost.
So, how did Robertson get his name all ove the writing credits? According to Helm he was the more business and studio saavy among them, and the rest of them didn't take things seriously enough to worry about it.
Clearly Robertson was a significant component of The Band. Unfortunately, he seems to want to promote himself at the expense of the others and the folks at Capitol are happy with that.
My advice is to listen to the music and don't read the notes. The music is sincere.
Free Music Review: Music has the power to change...
Hit: 5 Stars
And in 1969, The Band proved that it could change everything, and then some. They weren't just producing a smart and inescapable rebellion, but they were producing one that they nearly envisioned occuring in the song "King Harvest (Has Surely Come"). And that is the key to this whole album--if you are so inclined to look below the surface. Here was a group that said why follow the rules? These rules aren't the old rules, so we will go another direction here and you can either follow or not. We don't care. We know we need to do this. So calling their music courageous is an understatement. There is always too much depth and intelligence in Band songs for me to describe them all or try to explain to you what I think about each individual masterpiece. Yet there is one song here that can almost always bring tears to my eyes. The song will be a mystery to anyone who isn't creative, and even some creative people may not understand the passion and seriousness of the composition itself. "Whispering Pines" is a lonesome song, with a heart-breaking chorus ('the lost are found') that is almost overwhelming in its complexity and accuracy. However the song is gentle while moody, saddening while searching, and all the while it seems to be the embodiment of the freedom that musicians had during the sixties. At its core, it is the tale of a poet who can't quite write or attain originality the way he used to, and now if only one star (an idea or spark of creative thought) shines, he sees that his life is back on track with purpose, and there is still hope to find a meaning. What else were the people of this generation doing if not looking for a meaning that in the end they never could find? Pure GENIUS. Once again, the Band cannot be judged by the songs of theirs that charted or the ones that are the most popular. They created real art, and it is meant to be album-listening music, so buy all the original albums and give them close listens all the way through without breaking up the songs or the singles. This is artistic expression that defies the market and moves into the realm of ingenious songwriting and powerful performance. Their "hit" songs were nowhere near their best, and it is hard to single out one Band song that is their finest. Even get the emotionally-shattering NORTHERN-LIGHTS, SOUTHERN-CROSS before your exploring is complete. I miss the Band, Danko, Manuel (the greatest voice ever), all of them. If you love this album and are interested in the Band, do yourself a favor and buy the CLASSIC ALBUMS video release about this record; it isn't enough to simply call it an achievement. The video will give you fascinating insights into the Band's creative and performance process, and it will show you how much hard work it takes to make a REAL album full of real music. Simply brilliant all the way around. Free Music Review: The Band's Best Album Ever
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1968, The Band wrote the manifesto for a revolution of simplicity with MUSIC FROM BIG PINK. The self-titled second album, however, was the revolution itself. Ignoring the excesses of psychedelia, The Band based their lyrics around the America of the late-1800s that I passed a Social Studies class about in the early 90s. Many of the themes of that course I took in school are even more present here than on the first album, either explicitly ("The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "King Harvest") or implicitly ("Across The Great Divide", "Rag Mama Rag"). Overall, this album is essential for any fan of rootsy rock & roll, as well as for anyone who had a "B" average or higher in U.S. History, whether in high school or college.Free Music Review: "The greatest group ever!"
Hit: 5 Stars
To quote Graham Nash (among others), The Band was "the greatest group ever!". Eric Clapton says that the Band's first album, "Big Pink" changed his life, but the second album is even better.
Amidst the psychedelia of the late 60's, The Band's work holds up as fresh and original now as it did then. Big Pink was a great debut record, but the "brown album" put The Band on the cover of Time magazine.
Every song on the album is great. The Band pulled from blues, gospel, country, New Orleans jazz, and rock 'n roll, so the music itself defies easy labeling.
The Band had three great singers - Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko - each of whom had their own distinctive styles. They traded off vocals as well as harmonized, but not in the traditional Beach Boys or Beatles style.
The album itself opens up with Across The Great Divide, sung by Maunel, which paints a picture of a lost time in America, but is also funny and hopeful. Every song is great.
The musicianship is unparalled. Between them, The Band commanded almost 20 instruments. Levon Helm, for my money the best drummer ever, gave up his drum stool on almost half the album to Richard Manuel. Helm played electric guitar (Jemima Surrender), mandolin (Rag Mama Rag, Rockin Chair and Unfaithful Servant)and harmonica. Danko played bass, violin and trombone! Garth played almost everything.
The most noted tracks are Up On Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Rag Mama Rag, but I don't have a favorite. If I could only listen to one album therest of my life, this would be it - and I wouldn't be bored. Still number one on my stereo after 35 years.
10 out of 10! Buy this album!!!!