Hello everyone, I was going to review "Time Pieces" by Eric Clapton but I have decided to do something more current since I am writing for my school news paper now. Here is my review of "21" by Adele:
The album "21" has many powerful emotions and soulful singing and is a far cry from songs about partying and dancing, this album was written about Adele losing her lover, going through heartbreak, and finally finding a new lover.
“Rolling in the Deep” is strong for the nicely paced buildup and the dominant vocals during the chorus. “Set Fire to the Rain” has sheer intensity of raw disgust and anger from Adele at her ex-lover. “I’ll be Waiting” is very catchy for its Motown/ Soul style playing and singing reminiscent of Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady.”
“He Won’t Go” seems weak because the first half is repetitive and the song drags on because of it. “Take It All” has great emoting of frustration but pace seems slower than it should be and it does not build to a climax. “Love Song” when compared to the original song by The Cure is noticeably lacking in energy and just comes off as boring. However, the remaining tracks are worth a listen through.
“21” is not for partygoers and rap fans, but definitely for people looking for something different with compelling lyrics and real emotions. Despite not having every track be an epic masterpiece, Adele has powerful lyrics and an old-school style of singing, which does justice to the best hits of past decades. It is also refreshing that she does not have to rely on auto-tune but rather on her vocal talent. Lastly, some songs may have sounded dry and the production was a bit hollow sounding, but overall this album is very enjoyable and well written. ****
Rolling in the Deep Music Video:
Someone Like You Live in Adele's Home:
Set Fire to the Rain Unofficial Video:
Monday, October 31, 2011
Ke$ha- "Cannibal"
Sorry for taking so long with this, Ke$ha's last album traumatized me so bad I got a wicked cold. However, she also helped me realize that I can laugh at my problems to help get over them, so I thank Ke$ha for that at least. Okay, this is going to be my last Ke$ha review since I don't review remix albums. The only thing I expect to find here is that songs will probably be less obnoxious and perhaps a tad boring at times. Since it has been two months and I've reviewed Quadrophenia, I will be more calm this time around.
Title: Cannibal
Year:2010
Genre: Pop, Rap, Techno
Artist(s): Ke$ha
Copyright: © MCA Records 2010, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Songs:
The songs I would say are bad are "We R Who We R" and "Sleazy" because the first sounds too much like the leftovers of the singles from Animal and the second reminds too much of the Black Eyed Peas mixed with Nicki Minaj in the repeated phrase of "Sleazy" and the drum beat, though the latter has a pretty funny pun. The decent songs are "Blow", "Cannibal", and "Beautiful Crazy Life." The first two because though it is repetitive it has a pretty enjoyable beat and the singing is better than the previous album, though I could do without the Jeffery Dahmer reference in "Cannibal." The third has okay music to it, but the reason I call it decent is are the lyrics are simple and true, I can't fault her for living her life the way she wants, but I will also say it is easy to see that she hated being a waitress with her f**k you attitude she sings with. The good songs are "The Harold song", "C U Next Tuesday", "Animal (Billboard Remix)" and "Grow a Pair." I say these are good because they are pretty or very funny and have some good lyric writing behind them. "The Harold Song" is like "Hungover" part two in that she is heart broken, but the music is well arranged in that it actually sounds pretty, sadly the backing vocals howl a bit too much though. "C U etc." is a pun within it's self but has a deepened meaning to it and also sounds very pretty aside from the synth vocals towards the end. "Grow a Pair" is pretty funny and well arranged for the topic of a whiny ex-boyfriend of hers, and though some vocals suck, they are fairly on pitch. It is also nice to hear her direct her frustrations to one dude and not all of them. Lastly, the "Animal" remix was better arranged than the original including the vocals aside from the muddy sounding bass.
Audio Mixing:
Varried. Sometimes the bass is too muddy, other times it is pretty clear. Overall for a digital pop EP it is very warm sounding similar to her first album. And yes, it may be auto tuned, but at least she didn't sound like a robot vocalist the ENTIRE time.
Singing:
The singing was better than the previous album with Ke$ha being a little less pitchy, though I'd say she still has a ways to go before she can be spot on all the time. The ending of "Hank's Song" was very well done with Ke$ha harmonizing with her self in six voices. However, I'm still not a fan of her voice when she raps.
Instrumentation:
Very basic, but more technical than before with more fluid synthesizer playing that also didn't steal all the attention. Plus there was bass guitar at parts, so that was nice. Overall, basic but the songs flowed better than before.
Lyrics:
The lyrics vary in subject from partying and drinking with sex, to cannibalism, to living life, breaking up, and sticking it to "douchebag" and whiny guys. The lyrics are only vague, but are otherwise clear. What really stuck out to me though was "C U Next Tuesday" where Ke$ha dumped her then lover for cheating on his actaul girlfriend with her. The lyrics are ok, an improvement from before as it was a nice break form her normal "guys suck" routine.
What I didn't like:
The songs I said were bad.
What I did like:
How the themes were a little more human and funny, and most of the music a bit more consonant sounding than before.
Who would enjoy this EP:
Some Ke$ha skeptics, anyone without perfect pitch which I mean in a serious way, people with bad breakups or bad ex boyfriends/girlfriends. Also, her fans that didn't fit that last target demographic.
Overall: An improvement from before in most ways minus the slight copying of artists and the leftovers from Animal. This is the first time I will give Ke$ha credit for her song writing abilities, and the last time I will be reviewing her stuff, even if she releases more albums.
Rating: ***
If this album would have gotten one star I would have posted the "Cars for Kids Drunk Version" song, but I'm going to post the videos of the singles. Brace your self, "Blow" is a weird video.
"Blow" Official Music Video:
"We R Who We R" Official Music Video:
Title: Cannibal
Year:2010
Genre: Pop, Rap, Techno
Artist(s): Ke$ha
Copyright: © MCA Records 2010, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Songs:
The songs I would say are bad are "We R Who We R" and "Sleazy" because the first sounds too much like the leftovers of the singles from Animal and the second reminds too much of the Black Eyed Peas mixed with Nicki Minaj in the repeated phrase of "Sleazy" and the drum beat, though the latter has a pretty funny pun. The decent songs are "Blow", "Cannibal", and "Beautiful Crazy Life." The first two because though it is repetitive it has a pretty enjoyable beat and the singing is better than the previous album, though I could do without the Jeffery Dahmer reference in "Cannibal." The third has okay music to it, but the reason I call it decent is are the lyrics are simple and true, I can't fault her for living her life the way she wants, but I will also say it is easy to see that she hated being a waitress with her f**k you attitude she sings with. The good songs are "The Harold song", "C U Next Tuesday", "Animal (Billboard Remix)" and "Grow a Pair." I say these are good because they are pretty or very funny and have some good lyric writing behind them. "The Harold Song" is like "Hungover" part two in that she is heart broken, but the music is well arranged in that it actually sounds pretty, sadly the backing vocals howl a bit too much though. "C U etc." is a pun within it's self but has a deepened meaning to it and also sounds very pretty aside from the synth vocals towards the end. "Grow a Pair" is pretty funny and well arranged for the topic of a whiny ex-boyfriend of hers, and though some vocals suck, they are fairly on pitch. It is also nice to hear her direct her frustrations to one dude and not all of them. Lastly, the "Animal" remix was better arranged than the original including the vocals aside from the muddy sounding bass.
Audio Mixing:
Varried. Sometimes the bass is too muddy, other times it is pretty clear. Overall for a digital pop EP it is very warm sounding similar to her first album. And yes, it may be auto tuned, but at least she didn't sound like a robot vocalist the ENTIRE time.
Singing:
The singing was better than the previous album with Ke$ha being a little less pitchy, though I'd say she still has a ways to go before she can be spot on all the time. The ending of "Hank's Song" was very well done with Ke$ha harmonizing with her self in six voices. However, I'm still not a fan of her voice when she raps.
Instrumentation:
Very basic, but more technical than before with more fluid synthesizer playing that also didn't steal all the attention. Plus there was bass guitar at parts, so that was nice. Overall, basic but the songs flowed better than before.
Lyrics:
The lyrics vary in subject from partying and drinking with sex, to cannibalism, to living life, breaking up, and sticking it to "douchebag" and whiny guys. The lyrics are only vague, but are otherwise clear. What really stuck out to me though was "C U Next Tuesday" where Ke$ha dumped her then lover for cheating on his actaul girlfriend with her. The lyrics are ok, an improvement from before as it was a nice break form her normal "guys suck" routine.
What I didn't like:
The songs I said were bad.
What I did like:
How the themes were a little more human and funny, and most of the music a bit more consonant sounding than before.
Who would enjoy this EP:
Some Ke$ha skeptics, anyone without perfect pitch which I mean in a serious way, people with bad breakups or bad ex boyfriends/girlfriends. Also, her fans that didn't fit that last target demographic.
Overall: An improvement from before in most ways minus the slight copying of artists and the leftovers from Animal. This is the first time I will give Ke$ha credit for her song writing abilities, and the last time I will be reviewing her stuff, even if she releases more albums.
Rating: ***
If this album would have gotten one star I would have posted the "Cars for Kids Drunk Version" song, but I'm going to post the videos of the singles. Brace your self, "Blow" is a weird video.
"Blow" Official Music Video:
"We R Who We R" Official Music Video:
Special Request- Quadrophenia Disc 2 by The Who
Hello Again everyone, I am sorry if my last blog came off as preachy, I was simply expressing my views. Anyways, here I am on disc two of this Meta album. Since I got some of the lyrics wrong last time I will be paraphrasing meanings off of Wikipedia. This is also going to be the last review where I do the song by song breakdown, rather I will be making each section one paragraph each. Anyways, let's get down to this almost forgotten classic album.
Title: Quadrophenia
Year: 1972
Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Rock Opera
Artist(s): The Who
Record Label: 1978 Track/M.C.A. Records US Release
Songs:
1. 5:15-
The song opens on guitar and piano and with Paige on vocals. The song soon opens into a full on bluesy brass section with exciting piano and Daltry taking over for the vocals. Jimmy is on a train headed for Brighton, and he is sitting between two "city gents" who are consuming mass amounts amphetamines. Jimmy has been popping the bennys to pass them time and he is going through phases of feeling high and then crashing down from them. To show that Jimmy is taking bennys they constantly switch form a relaxed with the piano and guitar feel to an excited fell with the rest of the band and the brass section. What makes this song special is how nicely they do the switch of feeling high and the drugs crashing down on Jimmy, how real the emoting from both singers is, and the beautiful guitar playing by Paige. Overall, a very interesting piece in how they show Jimmy's struggle and crashing down and getting high again. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. Sea and Sand-
The song opens on the sound of Seagulls and then on a very sad soundign guitar playing with Daltry on vocals, then breaks into the Who's typical bluesy rock during the chorus and Paige singing. Jimmy's mood at first is heightened to be in Brighton, but he later realizes that the Mod scene is falling apart and he feels like he is living in the past. There is another switch in calm and excited, until we get a double triple mini solo from the band with Daltry narrating in the background during the song's climax. What makes this song interesting is how well they balanced all of the moods of Jimmy musically. Overall, a very sad but beautiful and exciting piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Drowned-
This song has a strong gospel feel at the begging thanks to the organ and has Daltry. Jimmy is contemplating killing himself by drowning in the ocean because he has nothing in the present. The song sounds happier when Jimmy wants to become one with the sea, and when he is in the water the music mellows out. Through a lot of jamming and variation, when the song finally ends Jimmy fails to drown himself and the band has a powerful jam session until we hear the sounds of the ocean and Jimmy talking to himself walking off. What makes this song interesting is the fact that The Who wrote a suicide song that sounds happy rather than sad. Overall, a powerful and exciting piece but tends to drag on a bit. 4 out of 5 stars.
4. Bell Boy-
The song opens on very energetic drums by Moon, followed by guitar and synthesizer and Daltry on vocals. Jimmy enters the Brighton hotel that the Mods tore up earlier, and he meets a former Ace Face who is now the Bell Boy at the hotel. The Ace Face looks down on Jimmy with pity and contempt. They have an argument with Jimmy saying the Ace Face has sold out, but Bass-Face hasn't =D, jk. Jimmy now feels no place in the mod life style. The song then goes into a mini guitar solo, followed by Moon speaking as the Mod in what Wikipedia says is a "cartoonish Cockney accent", but later on Moon sings and talks in his normal voice and the "Bell Boy" lyrical theme is often repeated, then more palying with Daltry, and towards the end Moon speaks in the accent again and the band continues to play as the song fades. What makes this song interesting is Moon's recititive as the Bell Boy personality and the Ace Face, the energetic drum and guitar playing, the fact that Entwistle played support again rather than his normal lead style. Overall, a very enjoyable piece that also shows more fustration in Jimmy's life. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Doctor Jimmy-
On the opening we hear synthesizer, violin, and drums. Daltry sings the vocals emphasizing the darkness of the lyrics. Jimmy is now doing drugs out the ass, and is now arguing with himself saying he should get checked out. This song is a loose reference to Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, which ties in with the multiple personality disorder theme. The song gets progressively quicker and more dire in tonality as it goes on, while sounding happy during the chorus. There is also a long instrumental section that ends with the "is it me" theme from disc one. There is a switch from happy, to dire, to triumphant in the song, and for the rest of the song we see variations such as these, four minutes worth. The song ends on piano and synthesizer playing together in unison and fades into the next song. Overall, this is a long piece but the who definitely made it interesting and complex enough for it not to drag on, it is also an interesting reference to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. The Rock-
This piece is all instrumental, and is one of the most complex that Townshend ever wrote. Jimmy has stolen a boat because he is high and depressed, and he eventually falls asleep on the ocean only to wake up and see the boat has drifted away. All of the instruments are pretty much going all out with changes in theme and time signature. The song is tying together all four of the lyrical themes, and the guitar is playing a very noticeable solo as this is the first time I've really heard Townshend do a few crazy guitar solos as I have yet to hear their full discography and this album was requested to me from a friend, he he he. Anyways, the end of the track is very mesmerizing and beautiful and closes on thunder and lightning fading into the next song. The entire track is what's interesting about this song. Overall, a masterpiece in how it sounds beautiful and how it ties all the themes together. 6 out of 5 stars.
7. Love, Reign O'er Me-
The song opens up on the best piano playing of the album as their is real soul to it, and going along with the piano are gongs and ceremonial drums. Daltry eventually enters with the synthesizer with a very beautiful melody to them. Jimmy is stranded on the island and a storm is raging over him, but as the storm rages he gets an epiphany. He is not the four personalities that he always feuded with, but rather he is himself. As the song continues we get to hear the bass and piano supporting Daltry and Townshend trading parts on guitar and vocals. We get to hear very dedicated solos from Townshend in the track towards the end. The song slowly breaks down into a single chord form a brass qaurtet and the guitar stopping with the drums as the album closes. What makes this song interesting is how triumphantly beautiful it is. Overall, just a wonderfl track with a great message: just be your self. 5 out of 5 stars.
Instrumentation:
Well, very complex. This album is probably the most complex ever written by The Who, as such they eventually stopped playing it in the mid 70s because it was a pain to perform live.The drums, guitar, bass, and vocals either have a lead part or act for support. The synthesizer and piano trade off playing melodies and chords, and Entwhistle wrote the brass section in the role of the rhythm guitar playing mostly chords at the right times. There are many time signature changes, and maybe a few key changes here in the in the final tracks. The instrumentation is very solid and worth listening as it switches form rock opera, to country, and The Who's signature sound.
Production:
The album was very well mixed, it was a tad dry but you can still hear everything clearly. I blame this more on the analog to digital conversion, also since I lack Quadrophonic speakers I can't really tell how it was 'supposed' to be heard. But the digital sound isn't bad.
Singing:
The singing is what conveys the story, and I like how Daltry and Townshend switch off, and let's not forget Moon's shining moment in "Bell Boy" as the Cockney Ace Face, that was a very well emoted and performed recitative. Sadly we didn't get to hear Entwistle's strong vocals, but I will get around to that when I review the Who's discography and the awesomeness that is "Boris the Spider." The singing is very heartfelt and unique with how Jimmy was happy to die or happy to thing of raping women in his different moods, where as other songs would portray that with sadness and being demented. The singing is very solid, and everyone was always on pitch too. The Who 1, Ke$ha 0.
Lyrics:
The lyrics are a bit vague from just listening to them, but with the Libretto they are much easier to understand and do convey the story very well. I am personally glad we live in the age of the internet where information is just a search engine away. :)
What I didn’t like:
"Drowned" tended to drag a little bit and I wish I coudl hear it through Quadrophonic speakers rather than Earbuds.
What I did like:
How well the album was written pretty much.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of The Who, country music, synthesizer music, good brass and piano playing to some extent, and fans of classic rock.
Overall:
A solid complex and well emoted album which is worth listening too, especially since it was almost forgotten many years ago.
Rating: *****
The Who 5:15 Unofficial Video:
The Who Love Reign O'er Me Unofficial Video:
Title: Quadrophenia
Year: 1972
Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Rock Opera
Artist(s): The Who
Record Label: 1978 Track/M.C.A. Records US Release
Songs:
1. 5:15-
The song opens on guitar and piano and with Paige on vocals. The song soon opens into a full on bluesy brass section with exciting piano and Daltry taking over for the vocals. Jimmy is on a train headed for Brighton, and he is sitting between two "city gents" who are consuming mass amounts amphetamines. Jimmy has been popping the bennys to pass them time and he is going through phases of feeling high and then crashing down from them. To show that Jimmy is taking bennys they constantly switch form a relaxed with the piano and guitar feel to an excited fell with the rest of the band and the brass section. What makes this song special is how nicely they do the switch of feeling high and the drugs crashing down on Jimmy, how real the emoting from both singers is, and the beautiful guitar playing by Paige. Overall, a very interesting piece in how they show Jimmy's struggle and crashing down and getting high again. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. Sea and Sand-
The song opens on the sound of Seagulls and then on a very sad soundign guitar playing with Daltry on vocals, then breaks into the Who's typical bluesy rock during the chorus and Paige singing. Jimmy's mood at first is heightened to be in Brighton, but he later realizes that the Mod scene is falling apart and he feels like he is living in the past. There is another switch in calm and excited, until we get a double triple mini solo from the band with Daltry narrating in the background during the song's climax. What makes this song interesting is how well they balanced all of the moods of Jimmy musically. Overall, a very sad but beautiful and exciting piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Drowned-
This song has a strong gospel feel at the begging thanks to the organ and has Daltry. Jimmy is contemplating killing himself by drowning in the ocean because he has nothing in the present. The song sounds happier when Jimmy wants to become one with the sea, and when he is in the water the music mellows out. Through a lot of jamming and variation, when the song finally ends Jimmy fails to drown himself and the band has a powerful jam session until we hear the sounds of the ocean and Jimmy talking to himself walking off. What makes this song interesting is the fact that The Who wrote a suicide song that sounds happy rather than sad. Overall, a powerful and exciting piece but tends to drag on a bit. 4 out of 5 stars.
4. Bell Boy-
The song opens on very energetic drums by Moon, followed by guitar and synthesizer and Daltry on vocals. Jimmy enters the Brighton hotel that the Mods tore up earlier, and he meets a former Ace Face who is now the Bell Boy at the hotel. The Ace Face looks down on Jimmy with pity and contempt. They have an argument with Jimmy saying the Ace Face has sold out, but Bass-Face hasn't =D, jk. Jimmy now feels no place in the mod life style. The song then goes into a mini guitar solo, followed by Moon speaking as the Mod in what Wikipedia says is a "cartoonish Cockney accent", but later on Moon sings and talks in his normal voice and the "Bell Boy" lyrical theme is often repeated, then more palying with Daltry, and towards the end Moon speaks in the accent again and the band continues to play as the song fades. What makes this song interesting is Moon's recititive as the Bell Boy personality and the Ace Face, the energetic drum and guitar playing, the fact that Entwistle played support again rather than his normal lead style. Overall, a very enjoyable piece that also shows more fustration in Jimmy's life. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Doctor Jimmy-
On the opening we hear synthesizer, violin, and drums. Daltry sings the vocals emphasizing the darkness of the lyrics. Jimmy is now doing drugs out the ass, and is now arguing with himself saying he should get checked out. This song is a loose reference to Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, which ties in with the multiple personality disorder theme. The song gets progressively quicker and more dire in tonality as it goes on, while sounding happy during the chorus. There is also a long instrumental section that ends with the "is it me" theme from disc one. There is a switch from happy, to dire, to triumphant in the song, and for the rest of the song we see variations such as these, four minutes worth. The song ends on piano and synthesizer playing together in unison and fades into the next song. Overall, this is a long piece but the who definitely made it interesting and complex enough for it not to drag on, it is also an interesting reference to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. The Rock-
This piece is all instrumental, and is one of the most complex that Townshend ever wrote. Jimmy has stolen a boat because he is high and depressed, and he eventually falls asleep on the ocean only to wake up and see the boat has drifted away. All of the instruments are pretty much going all out with changes in theme and time signature. The song is tying together all four of the lyrical themes, and the guitar is playing a very noticeable solo as this is the first time I've really heard Townshend do a few crazy guitar solos as I have yet to hear their full discography and this album was requested to me from a friend, he he he. Anyways, the end of the track is very mesmerizing and beautiful and closes on thunder and lightning fading into the next song. The entire track is what's interesting about this song. Overall, a masterpiece in how it sounds beautiful and how it ties all the themes together. 6 out of 5 stars.
7. Love, Reign O'er Me-
The song opens up on the best piano playing of the album as their is real soul to it, and going along with the piano are gongs and ceremonial drums. Daltry eventually enters with the synthesizer with a very beautiful melody to them. Jimmy is stranded on the island and a storm is raging over him, but as the storm rages he gets an epiphany. He is not the four personalities that he always feuded with, but rather he is himself. As the song continues we get to hear the bass and piano supporting Daltry and Townshend trading parts on guitar and vocals. We get to hear very dedicated solos from Townshend in the track towards the end. The song slowly breaks down into a single chord form a brass qaurtet and the guitar stopping with the drums as the album closes. What makes this song interesting is how triumphantly beautiful it is. Overall, just a wonderfl track with a great message: just be your self. 5 out of 5 stars.
Instrumentation:
Well, very complex. This album is probably the most complex ever written by The Who, as such they eventually stopped playing it in the mid 70s because it was a pain to perform live.The drums, guitar, bass, and vocals either have a lead part or act for support. The synthesizer and piano trade off playing melodies and chords, and Entwhistle wrote the brass section in the role of the rhythm guitar playing mostly chords at the right times. There are many time signature changes, and maybe a few key changes here in the in the final tracks. The instrumentation is very solid and worth listening as it switches form rock opera, to country, and The Who's signature sound.
Production:
The album was very well mixed, it was a tad dry but you can still hear everything clearly. I blame this more on the analog to digital conversion, also since I lack Quadrophonic speakers I can't really tell how it was 'supposed' to be heard. But the digital sound isn't bad.
Singing:
The singing is what conveys the story, and I like how Daltry and Townshend switch off, and let's not forget Moon's shining moment in "Bell Boy" as the Cockney Ace Face, that was a very well emoted and performed recitative. Sadly we didn't get to hear Entwistle's strong vocals, but I will get around to that when I review the Who's discography and the awesomeness that is "Boris the Spider." The singing is very heartfelt and unique with how Jimmy was happy to die or happy to thing of raping women in his different moods, where as other songs would portray that with sadness and being demented. The singing is very solid, and everyone was always on pitch too. The Who 1, Ke$ha 0.
Lyrics:
The lyrics are a bit vague from just listening to them, but with the Libretto they are much easier to understand and do convey the story very well. I am personally glad we live in the age of the internet where information is just a search engine away. :)
What I didn’t like:
"Drowned" tended to drag a little bit and I wish I coudl hear it through Quadrophonic speakers rather than Earbuds.
What I did like:
How well the album was written pretty much.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of The Who, country music, synthesizer music, good brass and piano playing to some extent, and fans of classic rock.
Overall:
A solid complex and well emoted album which is worth listening too, especially since it was almost forgotten many years ago.
Rating: *****
The Who 5:15 Unofficial Video:
The Who Love Reign O'er Me Unofficial Video:
Special Request- Quadrophenia Disc 1 by The Who
Hello again everyone, I apologize for this taking so long as I have been busy working two jobs and finding replacements for my old headphones pairs. I think from now on I am doing monthly releases. I am likely to be less negative on this review as I really love The Who, so I do have a pre-existing bias. However I will be grading the songs on how enjoyable they are, as always. According to the ever trusty Wikipedia, Quadrophenia was The Who's second concept album and was about a teenager with four split personalities growing up in Brighton and London in 1964-65 as a member of the Mods gang, and each of the personalities are rumored to represent each member of The Who. Quadrophenia is a term that means Schizophrenia.
Title: Quadrophenia
Year: 1972-73
Genre: Classic Rock, Country, British Rock, Rock Opera
Artist(s): The Who
Copyright: © 1973 Track/M.C.A. US
Songs:
1. I am The Sea-
This song opens up with foreign vocals and piano sounds being heard behind sounds of ocean waves along with a trumpet. The lyrics are foreshadowing themes seen later in the album as Jimmy is questioning who he is and asking for love to come to him. Later in the song Rodger Daltry can be heard singing four lines, each consecutively representing the band members with "Is it Me?" representing bass player John Entwistle, "Bell Boy" representing drummer Keith Moon, "Love Reign O'er Me" representing guitar player Pete Townsend, and "Helpless Dancer" representing Daltry him self. Then the song smoothly transitions to the next. What makes this song interesting is how well the band organized the music around the sound of waves and the fact that they used ocean waves to introduce an album about the Mods and Rockers fighting on a beach. Overall this is an interesting simple opening track. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. The Real Me-
The song opens up immediately on loud and expressive bass and drums with repetitive but very fitting guitar playing. Daltry comes in not too long afterwards with his exciting vocals with his signature vocal scream. Jimmy is questioning everyone he knows to see if they know which personality is the real him. His mother understands him, his doctor and girl friend have abandoned him, and the preacher wants nothing to do with him. What makes this song interesting is Daltry's emoting on playing the part of Jimmy, how well the band creates the emotions behind the lyrics, the brass section heard during the chorus, and the constant amounts of solo playing by bass legend Entwistle. Overall, a great piece that is very exciting and expressive. It is easy for me to see why this is the main single on the album. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Quadrophenia-
Note: this is the instrumental version. The song opens on piano and acoustic guitar, a guitar soloing, and steady playing from the bass and drums; it becomes calmer and then changes to climatic again. The song goes through many sound and time changes to represent Jimmy's emotions and to show that the Who knew how to write instrumentals to keep up with their rivals at the time, like Yes and Pink Floyd. What makes this song is how it never leaves you board or annoyed because it has the right amount of time and key changes. The solos for guitar, piano, and synthesizer are also really good. Overall this is a great piece that demonstrates The Who's technical abilities. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. Cut My Hair-
The song opens up with loud bass and drums and quiet guitar playing calmly, and the vocals sound very soft and emotional. In this song Jimmy is being told by his old man that he doesn't want to cut his hair because it will threaten his lifestyle of being a member of the Mods that fought on a beach 100 miles south of London yearly in the 60s. The chorus is much happier sounding but it makes the band sound out of time with each other with and this is the main place, but corrects to the slower pace in the verse with use of brass. What makes this song special is how beautiful Townsend's guitar playing is, how Entwistle can play so many notes but manage to create a solid foundation, how the drums are really driving the song full throttle, the use of the Radio broadcast, and how amazing Townsend's voice sounds when he sings during some of the verses on his own. Overall, a great piece with solid instrumentation that just has a silly sounding chorus. 4 out of 5 stars.
5. The Punk and The God Father-
The song opens in The Who's classic style. There is an acoustic guitar with loud bass, driving drums, and Daltry and Townsend doing angry sounding vocals.
The punk is the youth of Britain and America, and the God Father is the President of the United States. The Punk says he put the God Father in power and he hasn't done anything to help people, and the God Father said "Too bad, I own you and everything else." What makes this song special is the emoting by the singers, the balance in power of the instruments, and the surprising number of climaxes and slow sections through out the song. Overall this is a fun piece with a nice story behind it. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. I'm One-
The song opens up in a kind of soft 70s Country style of way with acoustic guitar and lap steel guitar. Daltry sounds very sad but determined while singing. In this song Jimmy is saying he doesn't really fit no matter what he does, but he is still always him self and will continue to be him self and is proud of that and the song later turns into a classic Rock and Roll song when the bass and drums come in. What makes this song special is how the instruments fit into two distinct styles, how laid back the song is for something that is kind of sad, and how the band proves they don't need a thousand effects to make them sound good. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Dirty Jobs-
The song opens up with loud bass, piano, drums, and keyboard. Daltry sings the lead vocals very dedicated, even though he sounds like my cat Starligt during the choruses. In this song I believe Jimmy is talking to numerous people who are being beat up by the enemy gang and he is telling them that they should stand up for themselves and that it is good that they do not weep for it. What makes this song interesting is the emoting in the singing, how Entwistle is taking the backseat and doing a good job-allowing Moon to show off his skills a little more, the people cheering representing common people being empowered, and how the keyboard and piano seem to steal the attention along with Daltry's cat like shrieking. Overall, a good song but has some silly sounds to it. 4 out of 5 stars.
8. Helpless Dancer-
The song opens up on some very nice tremolo piano playing along with horns and an acoustic guitar, and the song then gets slower with only piano and Daltry along with Townsend. They are trading off vocals in the left and right speakers angrily. In this song Jimmy is seeing him self as a dancer and is slowly realizing all the problems and injustices in the world and it makes him stop dancing. What makes this song special in how it is mostly horns, piano, vocals, and guitar because I'm amazed Entwistle and Moon agreed to not play for an entire song. The song also ends with a classic rockabilly piece and the "Is it me?" theme. Overall this is a very abstract but also angry and entertaining sounding piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
9. It is In My Head-
This piece opens up as a rock ballad with all of the instruments. The bass and drums are a bit more laid back, especially in the chorus. The verse has Daltry singing alone, but the chorus has Daltry, Entwistle, and Townsend harmonizing together.
In this song Jimmy is slowly going crazy because he feels like he is being followed, that no one loves him, and his head is empty yet he still functions. What makes this song special is the laid back feel of the verses are, but how serious the chorus sounds. What also makes this song special is the guitar solo, the breakdown, and the ending with the bass fading away. Overall, a very enjoyable piece that shows The Who can write a song in multiple styles, as this was a bit more traditional sounding but they still make it their own. 5 out of 5 stars
10. I've Had Enough-
The song opens up much livelier than before with the drums stealing all of the attention in the intro. As the verse comes in the bass and guitar expand their roles to accompany Daltry. In the second verse we get to hear Townsend sing. During the chorus Daltry asks for love to reign over him. Jimmy is tired of being told how to live his life by society and wants to put his devotion in the gang he is in. He is also tired of most thing including human emotions, though he was asking for love to reign over him. What makes this song interesting is how this songs manages to switch between exciting British Rock music to soft old country music, then to sort of a spacy sound with Jimmy praying to the heavens, then to an exciting old country sound. I also like the random scream and sound of a jet falling at the end. lol Overall, a nice climax with clean transitions of different styles and enjoyable playing and singing. Definitely a good to close disc one. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
One word, balanced. The mixing was a nice balance of warmth and clarity, the bass and drums were loud but never overpowering, the guitar was clear but also blended in well, and the singing never stole away the attention but was certainly audible. Overall I'd say the mixing was done very solidly for this album so far.
Singing:
Daltry, Entwistle, and Townsend all have really good singing voices. Daltry got the most attention because he is the lead vocalist, Townsend got some attention by singing verses in certain songs, and Entwistle did backing vocals most of the time. Each has a different tone that fits the music well and they sound even better when they harmonize. However, I will say that the fact that Daltry sounded like my cat on "Dirty Jobs" whenever he sang words like "round" on the "I'm getting pushed round" part is hilarious.
Instrumentation:
The instrumentation is varied, the rhythm section is probably one of the most energetic and attention stealing rhythm sections in Rock and Roll at the time, and that is because Entwistle and Moon were fantastic players who could play lead bass and drums or switch back to support roles when they needed to without trouble. The guitar is unique as it never leads the band but certainly guides them at a certain pace. The use of banjo and slide guitar was also very beautiful, which reminds of how older country was more relaxing and pleasant to the ear rather than a distorted Fender guitar playing the same chords and scales all the time like in modern country. I also enjoyed how the band used a Brass section as I feel it added a lot to the emotion of the songs by making it more lively and climatic.
What I didn't like:
I guess maybe that Daltry sounded like my cat, but that is still an accomplishment as she is a butch alto silver tabby cat. Also, some of the songs didn't transition as smoothly as I would have liked.
What I did like:
The playing, singing, story, and overall feel of the first disc.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of old British Rock Music and Country, fans of The Who, and people from my generation who aren't afraid to listen to older music just because "It was before my time."
Overall:
It was a solid album, one that I would define as British Country Rock that had good playing from the instruments, good emoting form the singers, and overall a very enjoyable and sometimes funny disc to listen to. Next time I will continue with disc two of Quadrophenia.
Rating: *****
I am The Sea and The Real Me from the film "Quadrophenia" By The Who Films:
Title: Quadrophenia
Year: 1972-73
Genre: Classic Rock, Country, British Rock, Rock Opera
Artist(s): The Who
Copyright: © 1973 Track/M.C.A. US
Songs:
1. I am The Sea-
This song opens up with foreign vocals and piano sounds being heard behind sounds of ocean waves along with a trumpet. The lyrics are foreshadowing themes seen later in the album as Jimmy is questioning who he is and asking for love to come to him. Later in the song Rodger Daltry can be heard singing four lines, each consecutively representing the band members with "Is it Me?" representing bass player John Entwistle, "Bell Boy" representing drummer Keith Moon, "Love Reign O'er Me" representing guitar player Pete Townsend, and "Helpless Dancer" representing Daltry him self. Then the song smoothly transitions to the next. What makes this song interesting is how well the band organized the music around the sound of waves and the fact that they used ocean waves to introduce an album about the Mods and Rockers fighting on a beach. Overall this is an interesting simple opening track. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. The Real Me-
The song opens up immediately on loud and expressive bass and drums with repetitive but very fitting guitar playing. Daltry comes in not too long afterwards with his exciting vocals with his signature vocal scream. Jimmy is questioning everyone he knows to see if they know which personality is the real him. His mother understands him, his doctor and girl friend have abandoned him, and the preacher wants nothing to do with him. What makes this song interesting is Daltry's emoting on playing the part of Jimmy, how well the band creates the emotions behind the lyrics, the brass section heard during the chorus, and the constant amounts of solo playing by bass legend Entwistle. Overall, a great piece that is very exciting and expressive. It is easy for me to see why this is the main single on the album. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Quadrophenia-
Note: this is the instrumental version. The song opens on piano and acoustic guitar, a guitar soloing, and steady playing from the bass and drums; it becomes calmer and then changes to climatic again. The song goes through many sound and time changes to represent Jimmy's emotions and to show that the Who knew how to write instrumentals to keep up with their rivals at the time, like Yes and Pink Floyd. What makes this song is how it never leaves you board or annoyed because it has the right amount of time and key changes. The solos for guitar, piano, and synthesizer are also really good. Overall this is a great piece that demonstrates The Who's technical abilities. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. Cut My Hair-
The song opens up with loud bass and drums and quiet guitar playing calmly, and the vocals sound very soft and emotional. In this song Jimmy is being told by his old man that he doesn't want to cut his hair because it will threaten his lifestyle of being a member of the Mods that fought on a beach 100 miles south of London yearly in the 60s. The chorus is much happier sounding but it makes the band sound out of time with each other with and this is the main place, but corrects to the slower pace in the verse with use of brass. What makes this song special is how beautiful Townsend's guitar playing is, how Entwistle can play so many notes but manage to create a solid foundation, how the drums are really driving the song full throttle, the use of the Radio broadcast, and how amazing Townsend's voice sounds when he sings during some of the verses on his own. Overall, a great piece with solid instrumentation that just has a silly sounding chorus. 4 out of 5 stars.
5. The Punk and The God Father-
The song opens in The Who's classic style. There is an acoustic guitar with loud bass, driving drums, and Daltry and Townsend doing angry sounding vocals.
The punk is the youth of Britain and America, and the God Father is the President of the United States. The Punk says he put the God Father in power and he hasn't done anything to help people, and the God Father said "Too bad, I own you and everything else." What makes this song special is the emoting by the singers, the balance in power of the instruments, and the surprising number of climaxes and slow sections through out the song. Overall this is a fun piece with a nice story behind it. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. I'm One-
The song opens up in a kind of soft 70s Country style of way with acoustic guitar and lap steel guitar. Daltry sounds very sad but determined while singing. In this song Jimmy is saying he doesn't really fit no matter what he does, but he is still always him self and will continue to be him self and is proud of that and the song later turns into a classic Rock and Roll song when the bass and drums come in. What makes this song special is how the instruments fit into two distinct styles, how laid back the song is for something that is kind of sad, and how the band proves they don't need a thousand effects to make them sound good. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Dirty Jobs-
The song opens up with loud bass, piano, drums, and keyboard. Daltry sings the lead vocals very dedicated, even though he sounds like my cat Starligt during the choruses. In this song I believe Jimmy is talking to numerous people who are being beat up by the enemy gang and he is telling them that they should stand up for themselves and that it is good that they do not weep for it. What makes this song interesting is the emoting in the singing, how Entwistle is taking the backseat and doing a good job-allowing Moon to show off his skills a little more, the people cheering representing common people being empowered, and how the keyboard and piano seem to steal the attention along with Daltry's cat like shrieking. Overall, a good song but has some silly sounds to it. 4 out of 5 stars.
8. Helpless Dancer-
The song opens up on some very nice tremolo piano playing along with horns and an acoustic guitar, and the song then gets slower with only piano and Daltry along with Townsend. They are trading off vocals in the left and right speakers angrily. In this song Jimmy is seeing him self as a dancer and is slowly realizing all the problems and injustices in the world and it makes him stop dancing. What makes this song special in how it is mostly horns, piano, vocals, and guitar because I'm amazed Entwistle and Moon agreed to not play for an entire song. The song also ends with a classic rockabilly piece and the "Is it me?" theme. Overall this is a very abstract but also angry and entertaining sounding piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
9. It is In My Head-
This piece opens up as a rock ballad with all of the instruments. The bass and drums are a bit more laid back, especially in the chorus. The verse has Daltry singing alone, but the chorus has Daltry, Entwistle, and Townsend harmonizing together.
In this song Jimmy is slowly going crazy because he feels like he is being followed, that no one loves him, and his head is empty yet he still functions. What makes this song special is the laid back feel of the verses are, but how serious the chorus sounds. What also makes this song special is the guitar solo, the breakdown, and the ending with the bass fading away. Overall, a very enjoyable piece that shows The Who can write a song in multiple styles, as this was a bit more traditional sounding but they still make it their own. 5 out of 5 stars
10. I've Had Enough-
The song opens up much livelier than before with the drums stealing all of the attention in the intro. As the verse comes in the bass and guitar expand their roles to accompany Daltry. In the second verse we get to hear Townsend sing. During the chorus Daltry asks for love to reign over him. Jimmy is tired of being told how to live his life by society and wants to put his devotion in the gang he is in. He is also tired of most thing including human emotions, though he was asking for love to reign over him. What makes this song interesting is how this songs manages to switch between exciting British Rock music to soft old country music, then to sort of a spacy sound with Jimmy praying to the heavens, then to an exciting old country sound. I also like the random scream and sound of a jet falling at the end. lol Overall, a nice climax with clean transitions of different styles and enjoyable playing and singing. Definitely a good to close disc one. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
One word, balanced. The mixing was a nice balance of warmth and clarity, the bass and drums were loud but never overpowering, the guitar was clear but also blended in well, and the singing never stole away the attention but was certainly audible. Overall I'd say the mixing was done very solidly for this album so far.
Singing:
Daltry, Entwistle, and Townsend all have really good singing voices. Daltry got the most attention because he is the lead vocalist, Townsend got some attention by singing verses in certain songs, and Entwistle did backing vocals most of the time. Each has a different tone that fits the music well and they sound even better when they harmonize. However, I will say that the fact that Daltry sounded like my cat on "Dirty Jobs" whenever he sang words like "round" on the "I'm getting pushed round" part is hilarious.
Instrumentation:
The instrumentation is varied, the rhythm section is probably one of the most energetic and attention stealing rhythm sections in Rock and Roll at the time, and that is because Entwistle and Moon were fantastic players who could play lead bass and drums or switch back to support roles when they needed to without trouble. The guitar is unique as it never leads the band but certainly guides them at a certain pace. The use of banjo and slide guitar was also very beautiful, which reminds of how older country was more relaxing and pleasant to the ear rather than a distorted Fender guitar playing the same chords and scales all the time like in modern country. I also enjoyed how the band used a Brass section as I feel it added a lot to the emotion of the songs by making it more lively and climatic.
What I didn't like:
I guess maybe that Daltry sounded like my cat, but that is still an accomplishment as she is a butch alto silver tabby cat. Also, some of the songs didn't transition as smoothly as I would have liked.
What I did like:
The playing, singing, story, and overall feel of the first disc.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of old British Rock Music and Country, fans of The Who, and people from my generation who aren't afraid to listen to older music just because "It was before my time."
Overall:
It was a solid album, one that I would define as British Country Rock that had good playing from the instruments, good emoting form the singers, and overall a very enjoyable and sometimes funny disc to listen to. Next time I will continue with disc two of Quadrophenia.
Rating: *****
I am The Sea and The Real Me from the film "Quadrophenia" By The Who Films:
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