Author: Michael

Posted in Album Reviews

Van Halen – Women and Children First (1980)

Posted on by Michael

Van Halen’s third album welcomed the band into the 80s. Once again produced by Ted Templeman, the band introduces a heavier sound. First track “And the Cradle Will Rock…” starts with an electric piano that sounds like a metallic guitar courtesy of Eddie Van Halen. A good rock song about the new metal generation of kids. The jungle drums and David Lee Roth making jungle noises opens “Everybody Wants Some!!”. The straightforward track about getting it on has been a long concert favourite.

The first half of the album is mostly about the kids, rock, and partying.  While the second half is mostly about that as well, a few different musical ideas start to appear. The punk/metal of “Loss of Control” sees Alex Van Halen doing double time on the bass drum. “Take Your Whiskey Home” and “Could This Be Magic” both turn in fine acoustic guitar moments. The former seeing a girl tell Diamond Dave, “well, I think that you’re headed for a whole lot of trouble” and the latter sounding like a good yet throwaway Doors song. 

The album ends with “In a Simple Rhyme” that starts as a 70s rock ballad before the rock comes in.  Nice vocals on the chorus make it a memorable album closer. Women and Children First sees Van Halen continue their party lyrics but the harder sounds is pushing the band forward.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Paul Simon – Paul Simon (1972)

Posted on by Michael

Nearly two years to the day that the last Simon & Garfunkel album was released, the mega selling Bridge Over Troubled Water, Paul Simon returned with his second solo album.  The self titled album is based on acoustic singer-songwriter tracks but here Simon adds reggae touches and a couple blues based songs. The first two singles have pop elements with a nice flow. 

“Mother and Child Reunion” starts off the album on a track that reached the US #4 on the singles charts. Here Simon adds an island flair with some reggae flourishes on a track based on his pet dog dying.  Similarly, the enduring second single “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” is a pop track about a woman who calls the police as “what the mama saw, it was against the law” but the crime is never revealed.

“Everything Put Together Falls Apart” seems to reference drugs and the toll they can take. Later, the deep guitar sound of “Peace Like a River” sounds like CCR while he sings about what it would be like to live under martial law. “Duncan” is six verses of a story of a boy born to a fisherman before moving away, flutes between the verses add a nice touch.

A couple of songs refer to Simon’s then rocky marriage to his first wife, Peggy Harper. “Run That Body Down” sees Simon sing about going to see his therapist while on “Congratulations” he sings that “love will bring you down”.  Paul Simon’s first album since the dissolution of his highly successful duo is an eclectic record but rooted in acoustic sounds.  He leaves behind some of the bombast and skyscraper singing of the Garfunkel years, instead goes for breadth with various flourishes added to his sound. A very good early 70s album.

9/10

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Emma Anderson – Pearlies (2023)

Posted on by Michael

When Lush reunited in 2015, Emma Anderson worked on songs for a new album but then the band once again fizzled away.  Instead, she uses those songs for her first solo album that was produced by James Chapman who in his own music goes by the name Maps. “Bend the Round” is one of the first singles and has a bit of a spy noir sound before muted handclaps in the second first give it lift. “The Presence” is a peppy song those verses have crisp drum beats before an ocean of guitars hit on the chorus. 

A Ronettes drum beat and organ like keys, gives “I Was Miles Away” a 60s feel while the acoustic lead “Willow and Mallow” has a psychedelic folk sound courtesy of Richard Oakes who appears on several tracks. One of the most memorable moments is on “Clusters” where Anderson sings about “all the pretty boys, all the pretty girls”.  In some spots, Anderson’s voice floats high and in other parts it’s grounded and plaintive. This is not life changing stuff, but it’s mature indie rock for those who used to have music badges on their school bags. Sometimes drifting away while staring up at the stars is a good thing.

7.5/10

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Bob Dylan – New Morning (1970)

Posted on by Michael

Released just four months after the critical mauling that Self Portrait received, Bob Dylan’s New Morning arrived in October 1970. One of the highlights of the album is the piano and organ work of Al Kooper. “If Not For You”, the first track and only single released from the album is a country sounding, upbeat track. “Went to See the Gypsy” has a nice piano/organ groove with terrific guitar licks while “Sign in the Window” is another solid piano led track where Dylan sings of a more straightforward life – “build me a cabin in Utah/Marry me a wife, catch rainbow trout”.

In June 1970, Dylan received an honourary degree from Princeton University which is recalled with little joy in the lyrics of “Day of the Locusts”.  “The benches were stained with tears and perspiration” before “the locusts sang such a sweet melody”. “The Man in Me” would later feature in the movie The Big Lubowski.  “Winterlude” has an old timely feel with some nice sounding Spanish guitar picking, less winningly “If Dogs Run Free” is a jazz take featuring scat singing from Maretha Stewart, it is absolutely atrocious.  

At the time, New Morning was seen as a return to form by the critics. Really, it is nowhere near the heights of his 60s work and with no truly great songs, it works as a cool singer songwriter album from the burgeoning new 70s decade. “If Not For You” is the only notable song from this album, later covered by both George Harrison and Olivia Newton for her first album. The rest is for those wanting a deeper dive.

7.5/10