1001+ Albums: 60s Block 9

1001+ Albums:

60s Block 9

Revolver

   Artist: The Beatles

   Year: 1966

       In contention, as half of their albums are, for their best. This one, however was the breakthrough. Essentially perfect, tying together disparate songs that somehow flow perfectly into each other and miraculously all fit into the same feeling, which is captured perfectly by the trippy cover art.

   Rating: A

Fifth Dimension

   Artist: The Byrds

   Year: 1966

       Pretty good, but I think I like Mr. Tambourine Man a little better. This has more psychedelic stuff going on, and thankfully as pretty much dispensed with that terrible affected accent that the singer had on the last album. "Eight Miles High" is the best thing here, and an all time classic track.

   Rating: B

Aftermath

   Artist: The Rolling Stones

   Year: 1966

       To be honest, I haven'y been too impressed with the Stones so far. This is mostly just misogyny and decent song construction, but far from what their reputation leads you to believe they are capable of.

   Rating: C

Face to Face

   Artist: The Kinks

   Year: 1966

       Packed with white hot/cool springtime/summertime vibes, spotted with multicolor, much like the albums very fitting cover art. It is also very English, apparently throughout it's runtime picking apart different aspects of British society. The sound is singular, one of the Kinks many immediately recognizable styles, sounding different from "Your Really Got Me" or "Strangers", but also remarkably Kink-y. I always love when an album creates a very specific, singular feeling.

   Rating: B+

The Yardbirds

   Artist: The Yardbirds

   Year: 1966

       A mixed set. "Over Under Sideways Down" is brilliant, "I Can't Make Your Way" is not. Most of the album teeters in between genuinely great and mediocre at best, sometimes within the space of a single song. Overall it gets that ever coveted and renowned placement of "just ok".

   Rating: C