«Perfect»
After listening to this album for the gazillionth time the other night, it occurred to me that if I had to pick just one album to take to the grave this would be it. While I love much of VM's music, for me Astral Works is only approached by the almost-as-wonderful Veedon Fleece.
I'm not going to write a lengthy review, many others have already done so much better than I could but I figured I should give perhaps the best album ever recorded a 5 star rating. So here it is.
[Wednesday, December 31, 2008]
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«Landmark»
Sit down, shut up, load one in the bowl and listen to this album and it will change the way you listen to music forever
[Sunday, October 19, 2008]
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«Astral Squeaks»
I know that this is a classic, I know that it has sold a zillion copies and that it estblished Van as a "great and as an innovator." I know that everybody has covered "Moondance", probably even The New Christie Minstrels.
In spite of all that, I cannot stand it. I am not concerned that it is very much of its time. I am not concerned that it was the start of endless records of two/three chord bashes. I am not concerned that it encouraged Van to play sax, which is not good. No, my dislike is very black and white - I can't BEAR his voice. It's a yes or no thing, I guess. I am sure that it is deliberate but he cannot seem to hold a note for more than half a beat, and his tone is so harsh. Listen to the middle section of Moondance - it would give an elephant migraine. From Veedon Fleece until the present day he seems to have a mouthful of marbles and a swollen tongue - and the end-notes are about one tenth of a crotchet.
When a flatmate played in incessantly when it first came out, those not in favour braced themselves in aticipation of the hard-edged squawks and clipped endings. It was christened "Astral Squeaks" and I cannot think of it as anything else. Also, I know that he is a very private person for one who tours endlessly, but why does he have to cultivate the on-stage persona of bad temper and aggression? You won't see that from Gary Brooker or any of his near-contemporaries, even on the Oirish scene.
I tried again recently becuase my boy is playing a few numbers in a band. No, sorry, it's still unlistenable.
[Friday, September 26, 2008]
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