The Moody Blues - On the Threshold of a Dream
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Free Music Notes for On the Threshold of a Dream
Free Music Review: Third Album's A Charm!
Hit: 5 Stars
As with most Moody Blues albums, the listener is treated to a unique introduction ("In The Beginning"). In the late sixties, singles were a way to promote albums. Hayward's "Lovely To See You" (U.S.A.) and "Never Comes The Day" (U.K.) were not high markers on the charts, but a good indication of what this classic album had to offer.Thomas provides the 'near' spoken word song, "Dear Diary" and Lodge gives us the pleasant, but tepid rocker "Send Me No Wine". The other songs on the album maintain the surrealistic mood with an almost hypnotic pace. Mike Pinder orchestrated the legendary sequence of "Have You Heard, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2" with "Voyage" in between; cementing the Moody Blues mellotron sound and securing the group it's psychedelic status.
This is considered to be one of the most popular albums produced by Tony Clarke; "On The Threshold Of A Dream" was the Moody Blues first #1 album. This positive collection ensured that the group was a self contained unit and not a flash in the pan. It is a beautiful piece of work.
Free Music Review: Have You Heard The Moodies?
Hit: 5 Stars
With their third album, 1969's "On The Threshold Of A Dream," the Moody Blues shifted gears once more, going from the psychedelic sounds of "In Search Of The Lost Chord" to a more cosmic, spacey, otherworldy feel. The end result is another classic Moodies album, with everyone in the band contributing excellent tracks. Drummer Graeme Edge's strong spoken-word intro, "In The Beginning," along with it's spooky keyboard lead-in & clock sound effects, instantly sets the mood. Guitarist Justin Hayward's "Lovely To See You" is a classic melodic rocker (and the band have used it to open many of their concerts). Flautist Ray Thomas' slow-shuffler "Dear Diary" is a memorable gem, one of Ray's finest compositions. Bassist John Lodge hands in a fine pair with the country-flavored atmospheres of "Send Me No Wine" and the rockin' "To Share Our Love," and keyboardist Mike Pinder's seductive "So Deep Within You" is one of *his* best contributions to the Moodies, and a mighty powerful song. Hayward's "Never Comes The Day" is a gorgeous ballad, Thomas' "Lazy Day" has an endearing childlike quality to it, and Hayward's "Are You Sitting Comfortably" is another luscious, dreamy song. Finally, after Edge's fine poetry of "The Dream," comes Pinder's astonishing, classic mini-epic of "Have You Heard (Part One)/The Voyage/Have You Heard (Part Two)," an amazing, heavenly journey into cosmic rock. The band sound fantastic on this album, and there's not a dull track anywhere. With "On The Threshold Of A Dream," the Moody Blues deliver another progressive rock classic.Free Music Review: Dear Diary--What an album it's been!
Hit: 4 Stars
It seems to me this album is a bit underrated by some reviewers--and this doesn't surprise me, because it took me a few listens to get into it, unlike Days of Future Passed. However, I did come to like it quite a bit.As with Days of Future Passed, a Ray Thomas composition jumped immediately to the forefront--"Dear Diary" was perhaps the biggest highlight on the album for me. This makes a wonderful song indeed for listening to out and about while people-watching. While it definitely picks up on a sense of isolation from the rest of society, it does so without going into excessive venom and resentment, and with the catchy, almost bluesy guitar stylings, and beautiful flute solos, it is a great laid-back listen. The other striking feature of this song is that Mr. Thomas' vocals sound almost like a shockingly good (though rather less bitter) Roger Waters impression! The similarity is quite striking indeed, especially when he starts talking: "Somebody exploded an H-bomb today..." Surely unintentional on Mr. Thomas' part, it is quite an ear-opener to notice.
"Lazy Day" also can be quite strange for a Pink Floyd fan because of the Roger Waters resemblance--as if the same voice with an entirely different technique. I enjoy the effect from the second vocal line that seems to echo in the background, and the other layered vocals. It is not "Dear Diary", perhaps, but enjoyable.
"Lovely to See You Again" has almost a CSNY vibe to it, with the harmonies and clear rock beat, and is a pleasant listen. "To Share Our Love" also had a feeling reminiscent of CSNY, and so these songs seem like a matched set to my ear. Both are quite enjoyable.
"So Deep Within You" has some of the album's most pleasant vocals--it might be said to have a strong "period" sound, but it seems to represent the *best* of its time. The same could be said for "Are You Sitting Comfortably", especially due to its percussion. Personally, I am reminded of songs like "Dust in the Wind" when I hear it.
"Never Comes the Day" is musically the most striking--the chord progression starting with the lines "But you will help me tonight..." is absolutely fascinating to me.
The album's weak point was for me "Send Me No Wine". The song has a rather folkish, almost country sound to it that I find distateful (others may appreciate it--I personally dislike that kind of music); as with another reviewer, this song set me in such an awful mood on my first listening that I was ill disposed towards the entire album. Subsequent listenings pinpointed the problem, and in my opinion it is really this one song that causes any trouble--so I skip it.
I also have to admit that I expected a clearer concept, when I first heard "In the Beginning", and was vaguely disappointed when it turned out to be less unified. The sequence from "The Dream" to the second "Haven't You Heard" (I'd like to make a point here that "relaxing" should not be automatically equated with "boring"--I do not find this boring) is quite beautiful indeed. Although the Mellotron sounds dated and awkward to modern ears, it is my understanding that it could be a very tempermental instrument to work with, so I respect Mr. Pinder for having the patience to get some pretty good sounds out of it.
My suggestion is, if you are looking for a more unified, tightly-constructed concept album, you may fare better with Days of Future Passed--but if your main interest is some good music, then don't overlook Threshold. Had the option been available, I would have rated this a 3.5, but because I feel its merits outweighed its deficiencies, I've rounded up to 4.
Free Music Review: THE VINCENT VAN GOGH OF ALL 20TH CENTURY MUSIC!!
Hit: 5 Stars
As I read some of the reviews of this album, I am so pleased to see many were written by young people. I think that's GREAT!! To those of us who fell in love with this band, we have had this album ingrained in our soul for many years. It's a part of us. From beginning to end, this album is pure art! And if you don't have it yet, you need to get it. This album is one of my 5 favorites. And it is a {{{{BLAST}}}} to play. Even the laid-back 'Lazy day, sunday afternoon' is a joy. 'Are You Sitting Comfortably' is a good example how Hayward can take a real simple chord progression and using a thumb pick (how guitar players use flat picks and thereby putting between 1 and 3 fingers outta commission I will never understand), use a break time melody and then a downscale riff and actually make it WORK! So easy, yet soooooooo classy. It starts with a hammer-on single lower E, then to G with a C and D note hammer-on and then a Dm and single E hammer-on, then a progression C chord, down scale to B (actually just a B 5th string and D 2nd string..D and G strings are played open and both E strings are silent), B flat, Am, G (sorry if I lost you). If you do that, you will understand what I mean. 'Never Comes A Day' showcases the fullness of the band's sound and how they were MASTERS of studio technology...YEARS before Floyd and Rush expanded on it. Oh BABY...What an album!Free Music Review: Eternally beautiful!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Back in the distant stone age when I got my first cassette player, I got this albums as my first one for it. Decades later I still love this album for it haunting, timeless beauty and never tired of it. Songs like SO DEEP WITH IN stays in the mind!!!The Moody Blue were there when I was preteen, with GO NOW and seem to be there at various points in my whole life. They endure with well-crafted music, evocative vocals of Justin Heywood and may the keep on rocking.