Traffic - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
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Free Music Notes for Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Free Music Review: A must-have album!
Hit: 5 Stars
Among the annals of the most elemental list of golden albums among the Rock universe, this album deserves a status place.Expansive creativity, enraptured inspiration and fulgurant creativity would be - to say at least - some of the most adjectives that would be able to define it.
This album trascended the barriers of its own age and space, so typical of the masterpieces.
Free Music Review: At this rate, you couldn't stop Traffic!
Hit: 4 Stars
Traffic was on a roll at this point, creating a body of work that rivals that of such heavyweights as the Beatles and the Velvet Underground. This isn't quite as good as, say, John Barleycorn, but it's a great record all the same. It's no masterpiece, though, because of the two aimless jams that close the record (Many a Mile to Freedom and Rainmaker). It's still got some great moments. The title track is one of Traffic's masterpieces, a poetic jam with some of the best lyrics ever to grace a Traffic record, not to mention stellar performances from Windwood and Wood (Mason was long gone at this point). Other high points come with Capaldi's twin vocal showcases: Rock `n' Roll Stew and Light Up or Leave Me alone, both of which rage against the rock establishment and lifestyle. If that weren't enough, there's also the opening track Hidden Treasure, which is great as well. Take off those last couple tracks, and it would be their best record. As of now, it'll have to settle for four stars. Free Music Review: One of Traffic's Two Peak Albums....
Hit: 5 Stars
...along with their previous one, 1970's John Barleycorn Must Die. 1971's Low Spark is a perfect blend of Traffic's brand of rock, soul, jazz, psychedlia, and R&B. 6 songs that are all different blends of the same ingredients (sorry for the cheesy cooking analogy!)
The album starts off with Hideen Treasure, a quiet and contemplative opener that gives way to the title track and a staple of rock radio then (my dad, a huge Traffic fan from when they first came out, used to hear this all the time on the underground radio stations of the late 1960s/early 1970s) and now. A slow build-up in volume before Steve Winwood's wonderful vocals begin. The song moves from quiet solos and grooves to full out rockin' before settling into the laidback groove that carries it out for good after 11 minutes. Just wonderful.
The rest of the songs on this album are great, too. Light Up and Leave Me Alone and Rock and Roll Stew are semi-straight on rockers, and Many a Mile to Freedome and Rainmaker are both gorgeous songs that cook with a slow burn, especially the ending jazzy jam at the end of Rainmaker.
This and John Barleycorn are probably the high points in Traffic's stellar recording career. And for all of you new Traffic fans, this would be a great album to start with.
A damn shame this band isn't as well-known and revered in the annals of classic rock as they should be!
Free Music Review: They don't make 'em like this anymore
Hit: 5 Stars
You just don't get this kind of cross-over rock/jazz music anymore. This album comes from a special place and time in the music world - a time when talent was respected and required.
Not much is missed here. We have tight musicianship, great melodies, and super jazzy/jams. The title track is amazing. Rock and Roll Stew is just a great rock song. Everything else is outstanding.
Pick this up if you're a fan of the 70's music scene.
Free Music Review: And I'm gone, gone, gone
Hit: 5 Stars
Traffic was another one of those late 60's/early 70's progressive rock artists. That might not seem like a big deal when plenty of other prog-rock artists were around during that time doing groundbreaking things, but Traffic had a certain charm to them that made it difficult to hate their music. They were very listenable and almost designed to appeal to anyone, even people who hated that big bombastic rock sound of many of the popular progressive rock bands of the day. If you're the type of person that preferred rock and roll to be simple and straight to the point, I think there's a better chance of Traffic appealing to you than artists like Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. But it's not like the entire Low Spark album is filled with lengthy multi-part pieces. This album seems to be another experiment in the fairly short and interesting life of Traffic (but not as short as Blind Faith!)
Traffic had a sound that anyone who enjoys rock and roll can like. In that respect they're similar to REM (even though the two aren't really the same). Traffic didn't bring anything new to the table (or if they did, I don't notice) but they DID bring a pleasant sound and enjoyable musical ideas to the world of rock. As I mention above, they weren't that popular back in the day. I'd say they were popular enough to release some big hits, but they were never big enough to catch on with the majority of rock fans (at least, American fans). They had a few hits (some of which are featured on this album) but I'd be willing to bet most of the people familiar with those hits wouldn't be able to tell you who sings them. They might be able to identify Steve Winwood's voice, sure, but probably not the name of the band.
What people don't know is just how consistent ANY Traffic album is. Song after song will bring a smile to your face, not just this album but pretty much everything they did. They're proof that music back in the 70's can still be great without having to do anything outrageously different.
On first listen Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys can be boring, I won't lie. You have to be able to appreciate the softer and jammier side of rock, instead of going in expecting instantly noticeable, loud melodies. This is music that might take some getting used to. You see, even though the music is easy on the ears, it just doesn't want to scream "LIKE ME NOW". It requires time and patience (or maybe it's just not meant for children and teenagers). But I think eventually everyone will come around to like it.
What I like most about the album is the bands decision to dominate the album with flutes, electric guitar jams, and soulful vocal melodies. The flutes truly have a heavenly sound here. Throughout the album they're played so softly and quietly it's like you're living out in the wilderness (especially on the opener "hidden treasure"). The guitar playing is focused more on melodic jams, like what Eric Clapton and Camel were doing, though the guitar is never overexposed. Simply put, it's hard to hate the guitar playing. Whether it's in the sound or the notes, it's always so darn good! It's amazing how everything feels so right, and even more amazing, how this or any other Traffic album hasn't become one of those long-lost favorites over time. If you ask me, Traffic should be a band that people should hear and think to themselves "man, where has this band BEEN all my life?"
The title track is memorable for that one piano line occasionally popping up throughout the song. It's a good song, and you may even hear it on the radio once in a while (then again, maybe not anymore). The vocals also have a nice sound. 11 minutes may be testing your patience, but remember: it's impossible for Traffic to make something annoying. The word "annoying" should never come into your head when you hear Traffic's music. Ever.
"Rock and roll stew" is a typical bluesy rocker with really good guitar jamming. In fact, the guitar jamming MAKES the song while the vocals pass by harmlessly. "Many a mile to freedom" shows us why we love Steve Winwood's voice so much. His voice really has the ability to make you absorb and enjoy the soulful sound of it. "Light up or leave me alone" sounds EXACTLY like something Eric Clapton would do (think "after midnight" or "I can't stand it"). It wouldn't surprise me if Clapton appeared on the track and we just don't know about it. Finally the final track (yes, the album only has six songs, though three of them are pretty lengthy) is a weird one. It's a weird way to finish off the album because the vocal style isn't at all like the previous five songs. The way the singer goes "rain-mak-er rain-mak-eeeeeeeer, rain-mak-er rain-mak-errrrrrrrr" isn't something everyone will like. It's almost like some kind of Native American tribal chant. Interesting. As you may have guessed, I love it! The second half of the song has more of that wonderful flute playing that made "hidden treasure" so delightful. That sure is one fine way to play the flute!
You really should pick up Low Spark.