The Rock Album Survivor Reviews Thread

[The Batlord]

This isn't one of them. "Sunday Morning" is the second, if not the best song on the album, and you eat dog poop.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

This isn't one of them. "Sunday Morning" is the second, if not the best song on the album, and you eat dog poop.

Well duh it's a great song, but there are greater songs on the album. Come on guys, it's not that hard to figure out. We all know that the tracks with Cale on viola and prepared piano are better, it's an objective fact.

[JGuy Grungeman]

But this isn't one of those times.

The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks



Style: Pop Rock, Baroque Pop, Psychedelic Pop
Release: 1968
Length: 39 min.
Round: Pop Rock

Upon the first track's opening, I immediately sensed how much better this album was than Something Else, the only Kinks album I've heard before this. I grew up with 60's pop rock, and even the albums i haven't heard before are nostalgic because of it. The album must certainly bring out the best in the band because it's hard to imagine some of these songs getting any better, like Picture Book and Animal Farm... and especially Village Green. All of the songs are quite different, occasionally sounding like a different band. But this is not a bad thing since the flow and happiness of the album are never disturbed. This album is the best of a good, old fashioned, pop powered band that captures everything the 60's rock scene was known for. I hope this album grows on me. Perhaps I should use my "quality exposure" strategy, exposing myself to a worse or supposed "second best" album and compare what's great and bad about both. This album's essence makes me want to rate it five stars, but that's just because it made me happy and has nothing to do with the album's overall quality. Most of the songs are 9/10, so...

94
Gonna relisten to it after other Kinks albums. Still, likely to stay on for a while.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Frownland

Well duh it's a great song, but there are greater songs on the album. Come on guys, it's not that hard to figure out. We all know that the tracks with Cale on viola and prepared piano are better, it's an objective fact.

You put Nico songs above it. I'll never agree to that. **** that bitch. I'll bet she had an overly hairy vagina.

[JGuy Grungeman]

Well, to be fair, my opinion for the best is tied between Sunday Morning and All Tomorrow's Parties.

[The Batlord]

"Sunday Morning" or "Venus in Furs" or you're a festizio.

[Frownland]

Listening to feedback is like touching myself without touching myself, so European Son is an obvious choice for me.

[JGuy Grungeman]

That is so creepy I have no comment.

[JGuy Grungeman]

Have Guitar Will Travel by Bo Diddley



Style: Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues
Release: 1960
Length: 33 min.
Round: Rock and Roll

I've mentioned this in a previous review: I look for heart in a rock and roll album because rock and roll gets a little repetitive for me. There's a LOT of heart in this album. For my first Bo Diddley album, I'm impressed. However, I also understand that heart isn't the only thing that makes an album. This might be rock and roll, but it's still an album. Like most albums, this has a flaw: Bo Diddley spends more time showing off the heart he puts into his music that he sometimes forgets about structure, as if he's having to much fun.

"She's Alright" is the first track. The song has a lot of heart, but Bo Diddley doesn't attempt to keep a consistent structure, and instead it feels like the "song" is a bunch of rambling around. "Cops and Robbers" maintains a similar rambling style of vocal compositions, but it still maintains a rhythm, so it's a better track. "Run Diddley Daddy," or just "Diddley Daddly" trades a little bit of the heart for rhythm, focusing more on making a song rather than displaying a lot of the eccentricity and hyperactivity that Bo Diddley put in his first two songs on the album. "Mumblin' Guitar" was the best example of a combination of Bo Diddley's persona and songwriting skill, even though the song is an instrumental. The track shows a fantastic display of Bo Diddley's skill at the guitar, mumblin' and ramblin' along. "Mona (I Need You Baby)" took a much more serene, tribal feel despite Bo keeping his obnoxious charm in the vocals. "listen to my heart go bumpity-bummmp!" This became the best example on the album. Perfect! "Say Man Back Again" continued the whole idea of replacing hyperactive talking with a vocal composition or actual singing. That went on through the whole song, and it didn't even feel like music. Still, the instruments were so great. "Nursery Rhyme" was a little better. Instead of Bo being hyperactive, he was slow and steady while the instruments took it away. "I Love You" felt like another average rock and roll song. Catchy, talking about love. "Spanish Guitar" is the most rhythm-high track on the album. Another instrumental, it shows off a lot more of Bo Diddley's skill than any other track. "Dancing Girl" is next up. It has potential to be great, but it's too short to reach it. "Come On Baby" makes a fine enough outro. The song is lead by a piano rhythm, and Bo Diddley sings more softly than ever.

For the final consensus, I'll say that there is rarely anyone who seems to have more fun with music than Bo Diddley. It's obvious from his actions that he loves what he does. However, should one let that get in the way of structure? As far as the album went, it wasn't that big of a deal. It would be close to perfect, if not perfect, if the structures were a bit more organized. However, I still recommend this album for rock and roll fans. This is definitely essential for Bo Diddley's persona alone.

92. Gonna keep it on. It might be at the top, but I have to relisten to some of the albums on the list that I've already heard.

[JGuy Grungeman]

Elvis Presley by Elvis Aaron Presley



Style: Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, Rhythm and Blues
Release: 1956
Length: 1956
Round: Rock and Roll

Elvis is the king of rock and roll for a reason. He was the personification of perfection in everything rock and roll had to offer. And it was that way since his ground-breaking album debut.

Upon hearing Blue Suede Shoes again, I realized something. See, until today, I always gave the song 9/10. After hearing the Bo Diddley album and getting a better idea of rock and roll albums, I can compare this to the best songs in the previous album and say this is better. The guitar work is awesome, and Elvis sings like no one else. In "I'm Counting On You," Elvis makes an amazing turnaround from the hard rockin' first track and sings a beautiful, emotional love song. He touches people with that voice. It told me that Elvis was to rock and roll what Johnny Cash was to country, and that's giving Elvis a huge compliment. Next is the Ray Charles his, "I Got a Woman." And Elvis clearly gives it his all in this fantastic rendition. His voice and guitar playing are so different from anything else, yet they blend together like bananas and strawberries. And they go awesome together.



"One-Sided Love Affair" is next. Although it doesn't quite reach the same quality as the first three tracks, Elvis clearly knew what he was doing, making sure he could make it as good as he could. "I Love You Because" is a beautiful tune, another great love song carried by fantastic country style strings that bring a kind of true sadness in the song. Paying attention to the strings bring a new light to the song. "Just Because" is the next track. Again, it fails to reach the same quality as the first three tracks on the album. Still, Elvis takes composition to a high level, making sure every little sound in the album is enjoyable.

Side B begins with Tutti-Frutti, an essential rock hit. Elvis' voice is absolutely for this skat-heavy song, and his specific rendition. This is when I realized almost every song is carried by his combination of his unique voice and his unique guitars, a twangy and high pitched song that works for his brand of rock and roll. "Tryin' To Get To You" seems like a generic country song, and it's not different from previous tracks. Still, it's a good song that grows on the listener, mostly due to its great guitar. "I'll Never Let You Go (Li'l Darlin')" has a wonderful little guitar intro, and Elvis sings with more serenity and peace of mind than ever before. He really has a beautiful voice. But halfway through the song, it surprisingly picks up pace and becomes a rockabilly song. A really cool twist. "Blue Moon" has really cool and quiet drumming in the back, helping to emphasize the rhythm of this somewhat awesome piece of peace of mind. It's probably one of my favorites. "Money Honey" is next.



It starts out with a lot of rhythm, and Elvis's vocals are awesome, so true to the aura of the tune.

Overall, this is THE essential rock and roll album. I personally prefer "Elvis' Golden Records, the singles compilation. Still, I recommend this as a good album for anyone into Elvis, rock and roll, or music in general.

98. Very likely going to be my winner.