Sweet- Desolation Boulevard(US Release, 1974)

porkchop · 04-14-2013, 07:45 PM

Up today is Sweet's Desolation Boulevard. How will it measure up to my expectations? As it stands I have heard Ballroom Blitz and A.C.D.C, both tracks I love. So I have high expectations for the album as a whole. To clarify it is the US release. Track listing is different for the European and US release. I will do a review of the European release another time. Second review written while listening to the album. Constructive criticism on how to write my reviews and your thoughts on my reviews are always welcomed.

The album opens up with Ballroom Blitz. One of those classics that just gets you moving. The guitar riff is great. Such a hook it is. The drum beat gets you tapping your foot at the least. Lyrics are a bit repetitive, but hey, it's only Sweet's third album(And SECOND album of the year).

Again with the foot tapping, the energy it seems Sweet brings to the music might be endless. The Six Teens is one of those songs about growing up it sounds. They put a nice spin to it. The drums are desirable. Based on what I have heard so far the drumming is certainly something to pay attention to, the energy is amazing.

Ah one of those songs about no one understanding you, No You Don't sounds almost like a teenage angst song, but I'd say it edges closer to a misfit type song. The lyrical content was cool, but also some what repetitive. This could possibly be a filler track.

A.C.D.C Just pure jamming right now. I feel their energy comes out best in this song. Yes the lyrics are quite repetitive, but it's one of those songs you'll jam out to every single time you hear it. Everyone who has heard it a few times can sing along. If you want to get a feel for if you want to hear the album, check out this track when it comes to the instrumentation, though avoid it if you want well written lyrical content.

I Wanna Be Committed doesn't leave much of an impression, standard repetitive lyrics, no change of pace. Overall most certainly a filler track or some randomly recorded jam session.

Sweet F.A. starts off with a pretty awesome guitar riff. Upon listening I can already tell you this is another one you will jam out to, even with it's basic lyrically content. It's another one of those you just turn all the way up and just jam out and shout the lyrics to. Taking back the lyrical content remark, the chorus is just repeated a bit too much, there is varying lyrics. Oh a nice instrumental jam, something to rock out to. At first this track doesn't appear to hold much, but I can assure you, keep listening and you won't regret it.
(Note: F.A. stands for F**k all.)

Fox On The Run Once you hear the opening, you'll recognize it every time you ever hear it again. It's not epic nor is it boring, it's just simply memorable. I'm hoping this says good things about the rest of the track. Based on the lyrics I'm going to assume it's about the life of a female band groupie that just follows bands around and after a while they all blend together. It's quite catchy really. Again I am enjoying the drums on this song as well as the guitar riff.

Set Me Free Still not expecting these drums and guitar riffs in these songs. This song opens right up with drums in your face with the guitar not far behind. Sweet is amazing me with the amount of jamming I can do to a single album.

Into The NightCompared to the other tracks it's a filler album, but it's still such a great song. Most other tracks are awesome, this is great. If you make it this far into the album you can tell even the tracks that are there to fill space on the vinyl or CDs now, are awesome and you can rock out to them.

Solid Gold Brass The moment I have not been waiting for, the closing track. Hopefully I enjoy it as I tend to dislike closing songs. At the same time the album has been such a joy to listen to, I don't want it to end.
Digging the track, it seems alright so far. Not quite as much energy in the track as I have seen so far. It's quite mellow compared to the rest, but it seems to work well with the rest of the album. I am quite enjoying the instrumental passage that kicks a little more than halfway through the song. It is certainly pulling the two ends of this track together.

Well, upon finishing I can say I am more than pleased that I choose to listen to this album. For the most part, every song kept me jamming. The drums are certainly something to pay attention to on this album, they'll keep you tapping you foot. The energy on the entire album amazes me, I can only imagine how they managed to play some of these live, one after another. It's under Hard Rock and Glam Rock, but with the speed and energy in some of the songs, I'd say it must have at some point or another influenced an early punk band.

Overall, everything considered, I give Sweet's Desolation Boulevard(US Release) 7.3/10.
It could have gotten an 8-8.5 from me had the lyrical content for some of the songs been expanded on a bit more.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and again constructive criticism and comments are always embraced.

Unknown Soldier · 09-23-2013, 03:40 AM

Nice review and I wondered which version of the album that you'd put up. I agree that Desolation Boulevard was the band's masterpiece and the US version is the album to get if you're only going to get just one. Sweet Funny Adams is also a classic album and not too far behind it.

You asked for constructive criticism, well you're reviews overall are fine, but could be brightened up with say the album sleeve and even a Youtube vid link to some of the best songs, I always find readers like to have some pics and visuals to go on

Also you're rating system of 7.3 and saying you would've given it 8.8 are I find pointless ratings, as what does the .3 and .8 actually mean. I would be better just to do a straight 1-10 or 1-5 with .5 only on all the numbers.

I've done heaps of album reviews on my journal thread.
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html

04-14-2013, 07:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
porkchop Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: In a surrounded by records in Michigan Posts: 58	Sweet- Desolation Boulevard(US Release, 1974) Up today is Sweet's Desolation Boulevard. How will it measure up to my expectations? As it stands I have heard Ballroom Blitz and A.C.D.C, both tracks I love. So I have high expectations for the album as a whole. To clarify it is the US release. Track listing is different for the European and US release. I will do a review of the European release another time. Second review written while listening to the album. Constructive criticism on how to write my reviews and your thoughts on my reviews are always welcomed. The album opens up with Ballroom Blitz. One of those classics that just gets you moving. The guitar riff is great. Such a hook it is. The drum beat gets you tapping your foot at the least. Lyrics are a bit repetitive, but hey, it's only Sweet's third album(And SECOND album of the year). Again with the foot tapping, the energy it seems Sweet brings to the music might be endless. The Six Teens is one of those songs about growing up it sounds. They put a nice spin to it. The drums are desirable. Based on what I have heard so far the drumming is certainly something to pay attention to, the energy is amazing. Ah one of those songs about no one understanding you, No You Don't sounds almost like a teenage angst song, but I'd say it edges closer to a misfit type song. The lyrical content was cool, but also some what repetitive. This could possibly be a filler track. A.C.D.C Just pure jamming right now. I feel their energy comes out best in this song. Yes the lyrics are quite repetitive, but it's one of those songs you'll jam out to every single time you hear it. Everyone who has heard it a few times can sing along. If you want to get a feel for if you want to hear the album, check out this track when it comes to the instrumentation, though avoid it if you want well written lyrical content. I Wanna Be Committed doesn't leave much of an impression, standard repetitive lyrics, no change of pace. Overall most certainly a filler track or some randomly recorded jam session. Sweet F.A. starts off with a pretty awesome guitar riff. Upon listening I can already tell you this is another one you will jam out to, even with it's basic lyrically content. It's another one of those you just turn all the way up and just jam out and shout the lyrics to. Taking back the lyrical content remark, the chorus is just repeated a bit too much, there is varying lyrics. Oh a nice instrumental jam, something to rock out to. At first this track doesn't appear to hold much, but I can assure you, keep listening and you won't regret it. (Note: F.A. stands for Fk all.) Fox On The Run Once you hear the opening, you'll recognize it every time you ever hear it again. It's not epic nor is it boring, it's just simply memorable. I'm hoping this says good things about the rest of the track. Based on the lyrics I'm going to assume it's about the life of a female band groupie that just follows bands around and after a while they all blend together. It's quite catchy really. Again I am enjoying the drums on this song as well as the guitar riff. Set Me Free Still not expecting these drums and guitar riffs in these songs. This song opens right up with drums in your face with the guitar not far behind. Sweet is amazing me with the amount of jamming I can do to a single album. Into The NightCompared to the other tracks it's a filler album, but it's still such a great song. Most other tracks are awesome, this is great. If you make it this far into the album you can tell even the tracks that are there to fill space on the vinyl or CDs now, are awesome and you can rock out to them. Solid Gold Brass The moment I have not been waiting for, the closing track. Hopefully I enjoy it as I tend to dislike closing songs. At the same time the album has been such a joy to listen to, I don't want it to end. Digging the track, it seems alright so far. Not quite as much energy in the track as I have seen so far. It's quite mellow compared to the rest, but it seems to work well with the rest of the album. I am quite enjoying the instrumental passage that kicks a little more than halfway through the song. It is certainly pulling the two ends of this track together. Well, upon finishing I can say I am more than pleased that I choose to listen to this album. For the most part, every song kept me jamming. The drums are certainly something to pay attention to on this album, they'll keep you tapping you foot. The energy on the entire album amazes me, I can only imagine how they managed to play some of these live, one after another. It's under Hard Rock and Glam Rock, but with the speed and energy in some of the songs, I'd say it must have at some point or another influenced an early punk band. Overall, everything considered, I give Sweet*'s Desolation Boulevard*(US Release) 7.3/10. It could have gotten an 8-8.5 from me had the lyrical content for some of the songs been expanded on a bit more. Thanks for taking the time to read, and again constructive criticism and comments are always embraced. __________________ ---------This space intentionally left blank--------- Ignore everything I say, I'm always talking out of my ass Last.fm