1001+ Albums: 60s Block 7

1001+ Albums:

60s Block 7

Highway 61 Revisited

   Artist: Bob Dylan

   Year: 1965

       That opening drum bang, kicking the door in, is the sound of an icon becoming a legend. It's a perfect song, one Rolling Stone magazine (partially named after it) called the greatest of all time. It lives up to that title. There is no wrong note, no wrong moment, everything fitting perfectly but feeling absolutely spontaneous at the same time. The rest of the album is pretty spectacular, it's slightly unfair that it's essentially eclipsed by the cataclysm that is "Like A Rolling Stone". Dylan has almost totally left folk in the dust (save for the epic eleven minute finale of "Desolation Row"), totally embracing the rock star. If it weren't for this change, Dylan's legacy would still be secure, his original folk singer persona being that enduring and strong. But it's this phase, almost a second career kickstart (along with Bringing It All Back Home, but this is where he really blew the hinges off) that would turn him into one of the greatest musical artists of all time.

   Rating: A

Mr. Tambourine Man

   Artist: The Byrds

   Year: 1965

       The title track: I think I mostly resent turning a wistful, magically surreal head trip of a Dylan masterpiece into a pop song. Also the lead singers voice is so goddamn goofy! Every other song (which is also weird) it's just putting me off. I like the other sounds, the jangling guitars, but that voice I just cannot take seriously. It sounds like its either incredibly mocking and sarcastic, like whiney five year old, or he's disabled in some way. You can see the Dylan inspiration clearly, as they cover four of his songs, a third of the album. When they all sing together, it's actually pretty gorgeous, Beach Boys type harmonies. The overall sound is great, it's just those songs where that guy is singing by himself, in what, I think, is a purposefully put on voice. Like he's trying to emulate Dylan but coming across as nearly a cartoon Woody Allen at times, but mostly part of the cast of scooby-doo. Having heard this version of Mr. Tambourine Man, I was kind of dreading this album. But most of it is awesome, and I'm glad I heard it.

   Rating: B+

Rubber Soul

   Artist: The Beatles

   Year: 1965

       The breakthrough album, and a pretty good one by itself too, although to be honest, a bit overrated. There is a lot of great stuff here, but it is by no means perfect. Songs like "The Word", "What Goes On", "Wait", "You Won't See Me", "If I Needed Someone", and "Run For Your Life" are second and third tier songs, and while some are underrated, others are disregarded with fair cause. On the other hand, "In My Life", "I'm Looking Through You", "Drive My Car", and others are top rate Beatles. To me, it just doesn't match up as well compared to nearly everything after (maybe not Magical Mystery Tour or Let It Be). That is no insult though, in fact it's high praise considering how phenomenal the rest of their discography past this point is. What this album accomplishes is being the first that feels like a complete whole, something that every song involved, while not all brilliant, really fit the album well. When I listen to this, I think of being on the road, in fact I can almost smell gasoline and feel the heat on the seat of the car after it's been sitting in the sun. That in itself is quite impressive, creating an album with such a unique and undeniable feel. It's at the upper middle portion of the Beatles discography, which makes it pretty much a great album just by that.

   Rating: B+

Here Are the Sonics

   Artist: The Sonics

   Year: 1965

       It's like if punk rock happened in the 50s. The low grade production, the speed, the ferocity, the screaming all applied to "Roll Over Beethoven". I've found a lot of things going through the 1001: jazz, early rock, soul, and this is one of the coolest things on this road of discovery. Is it a great album? No, not really. Its just so original and not what I was expecting, easily a contender for the first punk band, certainly an influence on the genre. "Some folks like water/some folks like wine/but I like the taste/of straight strychnine." Thats pretty punk to me.

   Rating: B

My Generation

   Artist: The Who

   Year: 1965

       Speaking of punk rock origins, the title track of this is a good argument as well for the birth of the genre. Aside from a few standouts and that track, the rest is good but not great, with the occasional spot of not very good. I'm expecting greater things from the Who in the future, based upon their reputation and other more famous entries in the 1001.

   Rating: B-