album #2

all things must pass (george harrison)

I really liked this album. Just an awesome statement of Harrison's talent as a musician and songwriter. Some of the tracks are a little drippy, and perhaps it's too long, but at least half the tracks are great and the other half are perfectly okay. It's truly a classic rock sound, led by George's high, sweet guitar. Many of the tracks are sweet lullabies, other are heavy rock numbers, lyrically united by a sense of romance, of faith, of breaking free.

Altogether it's a darn good record. The truly great half of the album: “I'd Have You Anytime,” a sweet, enigmatic, seductive opener; “My Sweet Lord,” a great track, one of the most famous products of his solo career; “Wah-Wah,” a great rocker; “What Is Life-” one of my absolute favorites, soaring vocals, great brass, great guitar- just across the board, an awesome song. One of the most Beatles-esque tracks on the album. “If Not For You” is a sweet, lilting romantic song, “Let It Down” encapsulates the whole album in a way- forceful rock, with a great tenderness in the verses… this particular track is the lead example of a trend I see in the album- that it seems to open a door to the rest of the seventies and beyond. There's a melodic blues/rock swoon to this song and some others, reminiscent of Billy Joel or John Mayer. “Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp” is another Beatles-y track, with a haunting echo of distant piano and high woodwind instruments, a delicate twinkle to this song. My absolute favorite track (tied with “What Is Life”) is “Awaiting On You All”- a song about faith, joyous faith in God- with some of the most beautiful instrumentation the album. A rowdy, echoing, futuristic sound, couched in the melodic pop of early '60s motown or gospel. A thoroughly unique and awesome song. And lastly, two of the jams, “Plug Me In” and “Thanks for the Pepperoni” are killer, blazing rock tracks- classic rock unleashed.

A versatile and melodic and uplifting album. Half of it is okay, maybe even a little dull- but the other half is a hell of a lot of gold.