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Music : Astral Weeks
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Rating: 
- A great album, both underrated and misunderstood.
I have been reading the other reviews posted on this site, and I think it's safe to say they have all missed the point. This album isn't about being "pretty," it's not about "romping" or making "fun" music. This album is a myriad of images which portray deep pain and sorrow. Madame George is the musical equivalent of the feeling one experiences after losing a loved one. Slim Slow Slider is perhaps the most emotionally raw song, with its snapping bass and lonesome, longing saxophone, ending suddenly with a vicious stab of ugly slapping and snapping and squeaking coming from the instruments, expressing the sudden breathtaking smashing of everything the singer knew to be beautiful. Beauty is not the foremost goal of this album, rather exploration of a deeper kind of pain is: The pain that life centres around, that every one of must experience if we are to ever become whole. To say that Sweet Thing is a pretty song is missing the entirely point, missing the dark and painful undertones which accompany its imagery of love and happiness. Of course, the meaning of the album would be lost if it weren't for the masterful instrumentation, especially the bass, flute, and lead guitar, which all provide complex and profound backdrops for the vocal play which takes place. However, this album is not meant to be enjoyed when listening to it. It is cathartic, it is beautiful, it is strong, but it is not enjoyable in a conventional sense. Those who prefer The Beatles Revolver to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will not appreciate this album for what it is, but will instead be put off by its lack of pop sensability. Real fans of music and emotion, however, will find an experience in this album, something to hold and love, however much it might hurt us to do so.
Rating: - Another Masterpiece from the Late 60's...
Some may say that "Moondance" is the best Van Morrison album ever. Indeed it's a great musical work, but "Astral Weeks" is among the best records EVER.
Music is the most abstract Art of all. That's what we can find in this album: 8 songs in the most pure simplicity. Van Morrison is not a perfectionist. His interpretations are directly from his soul and spirit, like he was deep inside the story he sings(listen, for instance, to "Cyprus Avenue" or "Madame George"...).
"Astral Weeks" is pure poetry that matches perfectly well with the flute, violins and acoustic guitar sounds. "Pet Sounds"(The Beach Boys), "Revolver"(The Beatles), "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn"(Pink Floyd), "Are You Experienced?"(The Jimi Hendrix Experience), "Forever Changes"(Love) or "Let It Bleed"(The Rolling Stones) are classical masterpieces from the Late-Sixties. Surely "Astral Weeks" is among those rare inspirated gems... Essential!
Rating: - MAGICAL!!
I HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT ASTRAL WEEKS, THAT WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT I WAS DISSAPOINTED, THEN I READ THE LYRICS OF A VAN WEBSITE AND LISTENED TO THE SONG OVER....WOW, AMAZING SINGING, I NEVER HEARD SINGING LIKE THAT EVER! ITS SORT OF THE WAY OTIS REDDING WOULD HOLD A NOTE AND WAVER, VAN DOES THAT BEAUTIFULLY WHEN HE SINGS "BESIDE YOU CHIIIIIILD". MY FAVORITE ALBUM EVER!
Rating:
- Very good, but how good?
So much do the critics like Astral Weeks that a lot of them consider it one of the top 10, and in a few cases, best, albums ever. Over time, many in the public, whose response did not make the album a good seller when it was released, came to show at least some agreement with them, buying and appreciating it. Still, the public overall does not take the extreme position of the writers.
This CD is full of lush instrumentation, well arranged. The guitar is acoustic, and there is heavy employment of strings and flutes. Saxophones, vibraphones, and keyboards are also used. The music is not really rock, but a blend of jazz and folk, with some classical and blues mixed in. From what I've described, you probably think that the songs are pretty, which they are. Except for "The Way Young Lovers Do," which is a straight jazz waltz with a romantic chorus, the songs have a similar texture, in many ways sounding the same. On Astral Weeks, Van is romping and frolicking or simply feeling good, in appealing natural or other physical settings, often with his loves. He sings passionately, with frequent swooping upward cadences seemingly in the neighborhood of an octave. The effect of his singing is evocative, although not melodramatic.
Astral Weeks is indeed an atmospheric album as well as a musically very strong one. The songs are not catchy, which helps explain its initial lack of commercial success. The best track is the precious "Sweet Thing," starting off with very pretty, fast acoustic guitar and then developing into a lush, intense, romantic adventure. It is distinctive in that it drives ahead, steadily and upward, as opposed to the meandering in other Astral Weeks songs, and the effect is overwhelming. The title cut is also superb, lovely and with some of the forcefulness of "Sweet Thing," but it does drag a bit at the end. The other six songs are not as strong, the odd man out, "The Way Young Lovers Do," being the best of these. "Cyprus Avenue" is certainly also pretty, with sweet-sounding tho insubstantial harpsichord overlays, but the strings are too syrupy, and this is also a problem on "Madame George." "Ballerina" is another good song, with excellent vibraphones, but Van and the musicians engage in tremendous efforts to make it a great one and do not manage to do so.
Van sings well, forcefully and with feeling, and handles the demands of range as well as he can. However, the sound of his voice is not pleasant. It is harsh rather than smooth, somewhat strident and raspy and even hinting at nasal, whether it actually is or not. I cannot neglect to consider this when evaluating Astral Weeks, cited by the idolaters for beauty rather than potent rock and roll. In a similar way, Bob Dylan's voice is a negative always for me and many others. On Astral Weeks, Van's vocals also get excessive at times, as on "Beside You," when he seems to be trying to be almost operatic in his vocal suspensions, cadences, and intensity.
Astral Weeks has been said to be an album of "compelling beauty." I stick to "Sweet Thing" (compelling beauty is an understatement for this song) and most of the title cut, along with other sporadic moments. For comparative purposes, things must be kept in perspective, even by those who think more highly of Astral Weeks than I do. A great number of Beatles songs; some pop hits of The Supremes and other Motown groups; Stevie Wonder's love songs; some work by The Who, Eric Clapton, The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, and even The Rolling Stones; and on the dark side, much of the work of The Doors, Santana, and The Velvet Underground, clearly deserve the characterization above more than most songs on this album. Rocking, hard-driving songs also merit consideration when "greatness" is the subject. I emphasize that musical complexity is ultimately not what is telling, but rather emotional content. "Be My Baby" is one of my favorites, and I do not care if other tunes are more sophisticated musically. Astral Weeks is noteworthy because its rich musical totality is unique. I definitely recommend it. Is it one of the greatest of all time? For me, the answer is no.
Rating: - A truly coherent and beautiful work.
Astral Weeks is to Van Morrison, as What's Going On is to Marvin Gaye, as Sgt. Pepper is to The Beatles, as Automatic For the People is to REM, as A Love Supreme is to John Coltrane, etc.
In other words, this is a Masterwork by a legendary performer that is unlike anything else he has ever done and ever will do.
It is an album of rare beauty, balance and coherence. Astral Weeks is not for everyone, but if you are patient, you will be rewarded.
- A great album, both underrated and misunderstood.I have been reading the other reviews posted on this site, and I think it's safe to say they have all missed the point. This album isn't about being "pretty," it's not about "romping" or making "fun" music. This album is a myriad of images which portray deep pain and sorrow. Madame George is the musical equivalent of the feeling one experiences after losing a loved one. Slim Slow Slider is perhaps the most emotionally raw song, with its snapping bass and lonesome, longing saxophone, ending suddenly with a vicious stab of ugly slapping and snapping and squeaking coming from the instruments, expressing the sudden breathtaking smashing of everything the singer knew to be beautiful. Beauty is not the foremost goal of this album, rather exploration of a deeper kind of pain is: The pain that life centres around, that every one of must experience if we are to ever become whole. To say that Sweet Thing is a pretty song is missing the entirely point, missing the dark and painful undertones which accompany its imagery of love and happiness. Of course, the meaning of the album would be lost if it weren't for the masterful instrumentation, especially the bass, flute, and lead guitar, which all provide complex and profound backdrops for the vocal play which takes place. However, this album is not meant to be enjoyed when listening to it. It is cathartic, it is beautiful, it is strong, but it is not enjoyable in a conventional sense. Those who prefer The Beatles Revolver to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will not appreciate this album for what it is, but will instead be put off by its lack of pop sensability. Real fans of music and emotion, however, will find an experience in this album, something to hold and love, however much it might hurt us to do so.
Rating:
- Another Masterpiece from the Late 60's...Some may say that "Moondance" is the best Van Morrison album ever. Indeed it's a great musical work, but "Astral Weeks" is among the best records EVER.
Music is the most abstract Art of all. That's what we can find in this album: 8 songs in the most pure simplicity. Van Morrison is not a perfectionist. His interpretations are directly from his soul and spirit, like he was deep inside the story he sings(listen, for instance, to "Cyprus Avenue" or "Madame George"...).
"Astral Weeks" is pure poetry that matches perfectly well with the flute, violins and acoustic guitar sounds. "Pet Sounds"(The Beach Boys), "Revolver"(The Beatles), "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn"(Pink Floyd), "Are You Experienced?"(The Jimi Hendrix Experience), "Forever Changes"(Love) or "Let It Bleed"(The Rolling Stones) are classical masterpieces from the Late-Sixties. Surely "Astral Weeks" is among those rare inspirated gems... Essential!
Rating:
- MAGICAL!!I HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT ASTRAL WEEKS, THAT WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT I WAS DISSAPOINTED, THEN I READ THE LYRICS OF A VAN WEBSITE AND LISTENED TO THE SONG OVER....WOW, AMAZING SINGING, I NEVER HEARD SINGING LIKE THAT EVER! ITS SORT OF THE WAY OTIS REDDING WOULD HOLD A NOTE AND WAVER, VAN DOES THAT BEAUTIFULLY WHEN HE SINGS "BESIDE YOU CHIIIIIILD". MY FAVORITE ALBUM EVER!
Rating:
- Very good, but how good?So much do the critics like Astral Weeks that a lot of them consider it one of the top 10, and in a few cases, best, albums ever. Over time, many in the public, whose response did not make the album a good seller when it was released, came to show at least some agreement with them, buying and appreciating it. Still, the public overall does not take the extreme position of the writers.
This CD is full of lush instrumentation, well arranged. The guitar is acoustic, and there is heavy employment of strings and flutes. Saxophones, vibraphones, and keyboards are also used. The music is not really rock, but a blend of jazz and folk, with some classical and blues mixed in. From what I've described, you probably think that the songs are pretty, which they are. Except for "The Way Young Lovers Do," which is a straight jazz waltz with a romantic chorus, the songs have a similar texture, in many ways sounding the same. On Astral Weeks, Van is romping and frolicking or simply feeling good, in appealing natural or other physical settings, often with his loves. He sings passionately, with frequent swooping upward cadences seemingly in the neighborhood of an octave. The effect of his singing is evocative, although not melodramatic.
Astral Weeks is indeed an atmospheric album as well as a musically very strong one. The songs are not catchy, which helps explain its initial lack of commercial success. The best track is the precious "Sweet Thing," starting off with very pretty, fast acoustic guitar and then developing into a lush, intense, romantic adventure. It is distinctive in that it drives ahead, steadily and upward, as opposed to the meandering in other Astral Weeks songs, and the effect is overwhelming. The title cut is also superb, lovely and with some of the forcefulness of "Sweet Thing," but it does drag a bit at the end. The other six songs are not as strong, the odd man out, "The Way Young Lovers Do," being the best of these. "Cyprus Avenue" is certainly also pretty, with sweet-sounding tho insubstantial harpsichord overlays, but the strings are too syrupy, and this is also a problem on "Madame George." "Ballerina" is another good song, with excellent vibraphones, but Van and the musicians engage in tremendous efforts to make it a great one and do not manage to do so.
Van sings well, forcefully and with feeling, and handles the demands of range as well as he can. However, the sound of his voice is not pleasant. It is harsh rather than smooth, somewhat strident and raspy and even hinting at nasal, whether it actually is or not. I cannot neglect to consider this when evaluating Astral Weeks, cited by the idolaters for beauty rather than potent rock and roll. In a similar way, Bob Dylan's voice is a negative always for me and many others. On Astral Weeks, Van's vocals also get excessive at times, as on "Beside You," when he seems to be trying to be almost operatic in his vocal suspensions, cadences, and intensity.
Astral Weeks has been said to be an album of "compelling beauty." I stick to "Sweet Thing" (compelling beauty is an understatement for this song) and most of the title cut, along with other sporadic moments. For comparative purposes, things must be kept in perspective, even by those who think more highly of Astral Weeks than I do. A great number of Beatles songs; some pop hits of The Supremes and other Motown groups; Stevie Wonder's love songs; some work by The Who, Eric Clapton, The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, and even The Rolling Stones; and on the dark side, much of the work of The Doors, Santana, and The Velvet Underground, clearly deserve the characterization above more than most songs on this album. Rocking, hard-driving songs also merit consideration when "greatness" is the subject. I emphasize that musical complexity is ultimately not what is telling, but rather emotional content. "Be My Baby" is one of my favorites, and I do not care if other tunes are more sophisticated musically. Astral Weeks is noteworthy because its rich musical totality is unique. I definitely recommend it. Is it one of the greatest of all time? For me, the answer is no.
Rating:
- A truly coherent and beautiful work.Astral Weeks is to Van Morrison, as What's Going On is to Marvin Gaye, as Sgt. Pepper is to The Beatles, as Automatic For the People is to REM, as A Love Supreme is to John Coltrane, etc.
In other words, this is a Masterwork by a legendary performer that is unlike anything else he has ever done and ever will do.
It is an album of rare beauty, balance and coherence. Astral Weeks is not for everyone, but if you are patient, you will be rewarded.