tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post3184685294287332564..comments2024-03-02T07:40:22.786+03:00Comments on Only Solitaire blog: The Byrds: ByrdmaniaxUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-41647704712425521382018-03-12T04:49:38.033+03:002018-03-12T04:49:38.033+03:00how can one ever find this elusive quad version?how can one ever find this elusive quad version?Kappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13458868476717940939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-44702106350302353932018-03-12T04:47:56.103+03:002018-03-12T04:47:56.103+03:00how can one ever find this elusive quad version?how can one ever find this elusive quad version?Kappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13458868476717940939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-35225072135803946752016-02-19T16:05:21.287+03:002016-02-19T16:05:21.287+03:00I like the album myself, although I agree with pre...I like the album myself, although I agree with pretty much everyone that there are some serious flaws:<br /><br />1) the running order seems odd. In a short stretch you get three songs by Battin, interrupted only by a short throwaway song from McGuinn, while both of Clarence's songs are tucked away at the end. The album comes across as a bunch of solo songs.<br /><br />2) as much as I love Battin and will (nearly) always defend him, Tunnel of Love stinks.<br /><br />3) Where's Gene Parsons on this album? Where's a Gunga Din or Yesterday's Train?<br /><br />4) I don't mind a lot of Melcher's orchestration, but some of it is heavy-handed - My Destiny sounds too slick, Jamaica Say You Will is smothered, Green Apple Quick Step sounds cluttered. <br /><br />5) To a certain extent I have this problem with the last bunch of albums, but the live half of (Untitled) showed the band not just as a country-rock band, but at times simply a rock band. The material here doesn't let the band stretch out at all.<br /><br />Anyway, as a fan of the album I'd recommend hunting down the quad mix too - a lot of it makes more sense: Jamaica Say You Will is prettier, Politician has some jangly-Byrds 12 string, My Destiny has a bit more oomph etc etc.Davonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-61030602579584711472016-02-18T20:02:40.665+03:002016-02-18T20:02:40.665+03:00Byrdmaniax almost comes off as The Notorious Byrd ...Byrdmaniax almost comes off as The Notorious Byrd Brothers turned inside out. While the reckless experimentation of 1967 at least afforded the original Byrds a splendid sendoff, the bizarre melange of choral and orchestral effects pasted on to what sound like half-hearted rehearsal takes gives the impression of the 1971 band being laid out in their caskets (silver death masks, indeed!) while random New Orleans Dixieland funeral party music plays in the background. <br /><br />There are some highlights. Citizen Kane is a wry send up, My Destiny has a delightfully earnest vocal from Clarence, and Pale Blue is a nice bit of lovelorn Irish whimsy. The rest of the material gives one the odd sensation of sitting down to a meal that's been simultaneously overcooked and underdone. A wretched meal, and such little portions!Malxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17260547693221778146noreply@blogger.com