Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
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Free Music Notes for Astral Weeks
Free Music Review: The Magic of Improvisation
Hit: 5 Stars
Van Morrison was extremely musically talented and knowledgeable from the very beginning. His first release, `Blowin' Your Mind' had amazing songs and, as it contemporaries, was full of electric guitars and psychedelic elements. But when Van Morrison embarked on the `Astral Weeks' project he knew it was going to be a unique expedition.
The most remarkable characteristic of jazz music lays on its improvisation and this is what Morrison had in mind for `Astral Weeks': an improvised and jazzy rock album. During the late sixties this was an enormous shift from the electrical characteristic of popular music. But this didn't matter to him as he never intended for `Astral Weeks' to be popular. His goal was to create something new, fresh, and musically unheard of.
`Astral Weeks' wasn't fully written or rehearsed. Van Morrison showed up to the recording studios with a sketch to be improvised along with Jazz musicians during its recording. But `Astral Weeks' is not "jamming" by any means; it has an enchanted backbone. Its sketch was full of mystic and gothic qualities. The lyrics exceptional and the song arrangement too. And there had to be some sort of magic in that studio's air because the execution was perfect. Acoustic, profound, and extremely beautiful, `Astral Weeks' is a record out of time that can't be compared with anything done before or after. Van Morrison smoothly created one of the best musical releases to date.
Free Music Review: Like an Arrow in the Heart..Greatest of all time
Hit: 5 Stars
First time i listened to this, I though i had waste a complete hour... Second time, I though to myself: Yeah it's better this time.. Why not give it another chance??
The 3 Time, Wow..
It was wonderful...
I realized that the wonderful Song ''Madame George'' was not long enough even if it's over 8 minutes.
I was trying to feel The songs.
I knew Van Morrison one month ago and listened to the album moondance first.. It was also really good but now i realize that Astral Weeks is much Better. All songs on the album are at least 5 stars except for beside you witch i give a 4 star.
Everyone needs it. It's a kind of bible witch chords!
Free Music Review: One of the best?
Hit: 3 Stars
I don't think so. This is definitely a DECENT album but some of the songs really do test your patience. "Madame George" goes on for an eternity without ever really building to any sort of climax, while Morrison's voice (which I usually enjoy) seems to grate over a few tracks (especially Beside You) that would have been perfectly all right otherwise. The quality of the CD remastering is possibly worse than those of the beatles recordings, which doesn't help. This is in no ways a BAD album, as tracks like the magical, "Sweet Thing", "Astral Weeks" and "Cyprus Avenue" are possibly the best Morrison has ever done; it just eludes me that this is considered one of the best albums ever made when it is definitely not. Free Music Review: Imperfect Gem
Hit: 5 Stars
It's a tough call giving this 5 stars. There's not a catchy pop tune anywhere, yet it's some of the most soulful music ever made. Much is made of the improvisational nature of the performances; actually I think that's not one of the bonuses of the album. The jazz backing is pretty perfunctory. I don't like the flute at all. But there are such strong pieces here - Madam George, Ballerina - that make all the imperfections add up to a masterpiece.Free Music Review: Van's masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
My story with this album: ten years ago, when I was discovering a lot of music, I purchased this album. I liked it, and felt something beautiful and great, but also, as a young listener, was getting a bit bored and depressed with it, and ended to resell it. Ten years later, which was last year, I purchased it again, having heard a lot more of music between, and matured as well personally. I would include Tim Buckley's music, and Joni Mitchell's music among those that have grown on me since, whereas I didn't like it enough ten years ago. I evolved from pop and rock music to folk and country, actually, and from energy and youth to more complex, poetic worlds in music. I can say, with this example, that our taste in music can just evolve with the memory of it. Because Astral Weeks grew on me without even playing it. It grew in my memory. I knew I was liking it better before I buy it again. I needed to hear it again. That's when you enjoy it the most. While I was at it, I purchased the first nine Van Morrison albums as well, from "Blowin Your Mind" to "Veedon Fleece". After months of listens, I went to this general appreciation: his three best albums from 1967 to 1974 are "Astral Weeks", "It's Too Late To Stop Now" and "Veedon Fleece". However, I don't rank "Moondance" and "St Dominic's Preview" as high as some other fans. I think the live album ("It's Too Late...") is the ideal start with Van. After, his celtic & soul side is my favourite over his rhythm'n'blues one by a wide marge. For rhythm'n'blues, I keep preferring Otis Redding, stuff like that. But "Astral Weeks" and "Veedon Fleece" make Van's uniqueness. "Astral Weeks" is Van's first masterpiece, and remains his most sublime work. I don't know anything else like this. I agree with the critics on that one. The thing is that this record is not just a record. It's too lively, physical, ethereal, experimental, raw, and as a performer Van is at his peak. Absolutely extraordinary. To give you an idea of what I mean: on "Moondance" you have a beautiful song called "And It Stoned Me". This song tells an experience ( a strong sensation of natural plenitude, a revelation). But it just tells it. "Astral Weeks" IS that experience. Van doesn't just tell it, he LIVES it. He gives and SHARES it physically with the listener. I guess I wasn't ready for that, ten years ago. Now that I've listened to thousand other records, I measure "Astral Weeks"'s absolute greatness.