tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post8148879345247279932..comments2024-03-02T07:40:22.786+03:00Comments on Only Solitaire blog: The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd BrothersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-10310123479953067402019-11-15T08:12:04.115+03:002019-11-15T08:12:04.115+03:00However, this remains their best album, despite th...However, this remains their best album, despite the problems with them fighting/leaving. It's the most mature of the bunch.Gandalfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12851946763377731513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-13508315367386261662015-12-31T23:42:11.494+03:002015-12-31T23:42:11.494+03:00Listen to the Dolphins Smile argument at the end. ...Listen to the Dolphins Smile argument at the end. What a buncha potty mouth crybabies. Crosby's a maniac, Usher's getting pissed off and poor Mike is being attacked. Better than a soap opera.JimmADerbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331334978761537408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-47452963208401582992015-12-31T18:38:37.150+03:002015-12-31T18:38:37.150+03:00I've never understood the critical hooplah ove...I've never understood the critical hooplah over this album compared to the previous two -- something about its atmsopherr just feels off to me. With that said, I was surprised that I still found it to be a solid album. 4 out of 5 stars, compared to the previous perfect 5's. Not until "Easy Rider" and "Untitled/Unissued" would they return to such consistency -- first came the Nashville slump, with only a handful of bright spots.Which One's Pink?https://www.blogger.com/profile/01967778287591586043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-55770429527594385142015-12-31T18:11:28.390+03:002015-12-31T18:11:28.390+03:00This is another of those classic albums I don'...This is another of those classic albums I don't "get". Though it's not their worst.<br /><br />http://everybodysdummy.blogspot.com/2011/10/byrds-5-notorious-byrd-brothers.htmlwardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825405583474881509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-90367523696192095152015-12-31T17:01:29.170+03:002015-12-31T17:01:29.170+03:00I too once shared the belief that this album was w...I too once shared the belief that this album was weaker than three of the four that preceded. It was too unfocused, even compared to 5D, although that could be called creativity fired on all cylinders rather than lack of focus. Eventually, though, something clicked. I'm not sure what it was, exactly, but I know whatever it was makes me consider this one of the Byrds' best albums (second only to Mr. Tambourine Man, 5D and Younger Than Yesterday) and possibly the quintessential album of the late '60s; the mix of new sounds with old ones, moments of ethereal beauty interrupted by jarring noise, the promotion of peace whilst the members of the group were facing wars, amongst themselves and possibly internally, it captures all the contradictions of the '60s down into one very short LP.<br /><br />And on a musical level, I think (and I always did, even when I wasn't completely sold on the album) the opening four-song stretch is a high point in the Byrds' career. "Artificial Energy" is an excellent, energetic opener, and the title is just, with phased horns blasting through and, for the first time in the group's careers, "ugly" harmonies, possibly because Michael Clarke joins in (he did co-write it, after all). "Goin' Back" is beautifully nostalgic, with everything from the jangle guitars to the glockenspiel to the strings and the vocals perfectly in place (and this might just be the band's best harmonies). We already agree on "Natural Harmony", so nothing to add there, but as for "Draft Morning", it might be my favourite song on the LP. The whole ethereal beauty with chaotic noise dichotomy I brought up earlier is best found here, with a gorgeous, heart-melting melody and pained vocal harmonies, suddenly interrupted by war noises that I can't picture the song without. To me, this is one of the very best songs in the '60s with the word "morning" in the title, up there with the Velvets' "Sunday Morning".<br /><br />As for the rest of the album, I do enjoy it quite a bit, except for "Space Odyssey" which is a bit too much for my taste ("Dolphin's Smile" would have made a much better closer, or ideally, "Triad"). But the combination of jazz, folk, country and psychedelia that constantly changes which of the four genres is favoured – not just in each song, but in each portion of a given song – is something to behold. One song I'd like to defend is the only one you didn't mention, the McGuinn/Clark-penned "Get to You". It was already recorded after Gene left (in fact, rumours state he didn't record much, and it's highly probable what he did record wasn't used for the album; he was nothing more than a substitute for David on stage), but I think it's a lovely ballad, with an endearing mock-waltz that's actually in 5/4, and when it's actually in waltz tempo (3/4) it becomes a wave of psychedelic noise with frightening phased vocals. I think the song has something to do with the group's first impression of London; if that's the case, I'm thinking they only witnessed the London underground music scene, which the startling key changes could remind you of.<br /><br />It's a shame that this was technically the end of the band; I actually quite like Sweetheart of the Rodeo, in spite of a jarring lack of creativity, but I'll wait till that review to comment. What I'm getting at is, as you stated this is an acquired taste, I say it's one worth acquiring. I doubt there's no hope for you to acquire said taste; if you can handle Trout Mask Replica (which I also rate abnormally highly), you can probably acquire any taste that goes beyond generic (which this album certainly does).Mr. Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431440474437762706noreply@blogger.com