1001+ Albums: 60s Block 8

1001+ Albums:

60s Block 8

Blonde On Blonde

   Artist: Bob Dylan

   Year: 1966

       Bob Dylan at the height of his powers, making the greatest album that he would in nearly a decade (and arguably his greatest ever). I like the way Al Kooper described it, "Nobody has ever captured the sound of 3 a.m. better...". I think that describes this album the best, the whimsical, "wild mercury" (Dylan's words) sound that seeps in and out throughout it.

   Rating: A

If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

   Artist: The Mamas and the Papas

   Year: 1966

       Yes I can (believe my eyes and ears). It's just okay. Folk pop sung by a quartet. Don't have much to say about this one. California Dreamin' is a good song, the rest is like I said, just okay. Why are they in a bathtub?

   Rating: C

Black Monk Time

   Artist: The Monks

   Year: 1966

       Another protopunk challenger for the throne of earliest punk recording. This one is closer to the Velvet Underground than it is to the Sonics. It has the scratchy sound, but not quite the sheer force of Here Are The Sonics, at least on the outside. They are, however, more deranged than that band, lyrically, and overall sonically as well. It isn't as fast but it sounds more enraged, more demented. Lyrics like "I hate you with a passion baby?" and "Stop it stop it stop it I don't like it" are a far cry from the usual sweetness of popular music, and things like "Why do you kill all those kids in Vietnam?" is more blunt and charged than anything else going on at the time. Truth be told, it's mostly more fascinating than it is good, not to say it isn't any good though. But this is experimental territory, and it often comes of as just that: experiments. Frankly it's all a little insane, in a good way. Not just in the music, but the fact that this was 1966. I didn't think this happened for at least a couple of years (arguably the next, with the Velvet Underground and Nico). It sounds like 60s rock looking at the 60s from a social and political perspective and losing its mind. Other bands could keep their cool, sing about what they saw in a rousing and uplifting way. These guys, actual soldiers themselves, didn't seem to be able to cope as well, and it reflects in their sound and in their words. 

   Rating: B

Fred Neil

   Artist: Fred Neil

   Year: 1966

       A pleasant surprise, thoroughly enjoyable. As close to country as I tend to like (save the man in black), and even then it is definitely more folk than country. There is a slight feeling in his voice of that genre on some songs though, and it actually made those songs better for it. Interestingly also a touch of the psychedelic. 

   Rating: A-

Midnight Ride

   Artist: Paul Revere and the Raiders

   Year: 1966

       Another slightly punk-y album, not to the extent of the others I've talked about though. Other than that, it's fine. Nothing special.

   Rating: C

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

   Artist: Simon and Garfunkel 

   Year: 1966

       A collection of folk and folk rock songs by two of the most prominent figures in the genres, and in 60s music in general. Some great tracks, like "Scarborough Fair/Canticle". Makes me want to re-watch the Graduate.

   Rating: B