Music From Big Pink Bottom

Overall Album Score: 9.2 out of 10

Where is the Big Pink? ............ Is that another name for Bob Dylan? 'Cause ... ummm ... oh wait. Bob only wrote or cowrote three of these songs (two of which are among the album's best) and ... yeah ... this is a real band. Even though their band name is kind of crappy. (Really ... The Band??? In theory, that name ought to be cool, but ... it isn't.)

I don't know what it is about me, but I can never seem to fully enjoy 60s American folk-hippie music like I probably ought to. Perhaps it's too good for me! But ... I still enjoyed listening to this album. The Band proves to be absolute masters in creating atmosphere in this debut of theirs. That's the principle reason why this is a good album! Unfortunately, I have to already be in a particular mood for this album ... a mood that I'm only rarely in ... so ... I'll probably never listen to it anymore.

Fortunately, all the melodies in here are good as well. They're hardly McCartney-esque, but they're ... uhhhh ... Dylanesque, and that's always a good thing! The clear highlights in here are "Tears of Rage," "The Weight," "Chest Fever" and the future theme song for Absolutely Fabulous "This Wheel's on Fire." Sort of barring "Tears of Rage," all of these songs are quite memorable! "Tears of Rage" has a great atmosphere to it, but ... I can't say I'll remember what it sounds like tomorrow morning.

Certainly, this is one for your collection if you're interested in historic items. The Band became one of America's most favorite bands! And there's good reason for that! They're pretty dang good! ... The End.

Overall Album Score: 9.2 out of 10 (Probably one of the more essential albums from the 60s American hippie generation ... and ... it's a pretty good album, too.)

Average Song Score: 9.1 (There are some very very good songs on this album from beginning to finish. Not a weak one in the bunch.)

Album Tilt: 9.0 (I like this album. I doubt I'll ever consider it one of my favorites, but it was good. I enjoyed listening to it.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (The Band is a gooood band. These songs sound like they're better than they actually are. I guess that's one of the side effects of being a good artist! ... And that's all not to mention that this is among the world's premiere art-rock albums.)

Track Reviews

Tears of Rage 9.5/10

This song takes like forever, and it doesn't really leave much of an impression on me! ... And so I have to pay attention to it harder and ... uhhhh ... hey! It's a good song! A good good good good good good good song! It's very slow and very dreary (which accounts for the reason it doesn't really leave a lasting impression on me ... unless I do what I'm supposed to and actually try paying attention to it). The melody is very very well-written, (...it's even pretty catchy, if you let yourself become immersed by it) and the song is well-performed. A very good song ... that's dreary. And kinda lengthy.

To Kingdom Come 8.5/10

A growling song! It's more exciting than that last song with the more defined rhythm section ... and it even has a nice electric guitar solo in it. The melody is good, but ... I don't know ... it's not really that special.

In a Station 9/10

Another mighty fine song that works very well atmospherically and it also works well melodically (but not quite as well). Ohhhhh... The Band. Their band name sucks (sorry), but they were beloved for a good reason. The atmosphere on this one is just fantastic. And I love the instrument choices. Very alluring!

Caledonia Mission 9/10

Oh man! These guys are solid! I never cared much for Americana folksy stuff, but these songs are great. Again, the atmosphere is fantastic and so is the melody. Nice, nice stuff!

The Weight 10/10

This song was on that really stupid movie about the former hippies! (The Big Chill has some of the most pretentious, despisable characters on it, and you know it!) And ... uhhh ... that's all. They had decent taste of music, though, 'cause this is a pretty good song! It has one of the album's finer melodies, and, again, the atmosphere is nice.

We Can Talk 9/10

Another mighty good song. Yes. Good songs are mighty! Again, this is another wunna them folky pop songs with the atmosphere and melody. This is one of the most upbeat songs on the album. Oh yeah.

Long Black Veil 8.5/10

Ohhhh... this isn't quite as good, but they've still got it! The atmosphere is still nice, but the melody isn't quite as catchy and the instruments aren't quite as affecting. But ... still good. Hippies smell, but they do nice drugs.

Chest Fever 9.5/10

Huh??? I almost thought I accidentally put on some Deep Purple or something! This has a sort of heavy metal type riff to it! Awesome! But ... no. It's just The Band. I'll tell ya what, though. This is very nearly a 10. It's among the most memorable songs on the album. And the middle part of this song is just goofy ... in that inspired way.

Lonesome Suzie 8/10

Lonesome Suzie ... LONESOME ME!!!! Above all the other slow and dreary songs on this album, this is the slowest and dreariest of them all! The melody is still pretty good and the song is quite tasteful indeed, but ... I'm more bored now than anything else.

This Wheel's On Fire 10/10

IT'S THE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS THEME SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... And ... ummm ... crap. Why on earth did those British people want this to be their theme song? ... It was an odd choice. The song is good, certainly, but ... it doesn't exactly ring of "Britcom about alcoholics" to me. ... Oh, and this isn't the same version of the song on Absolutely Fabulous (obviously). This song is definitely performed more hippie-like. Great use of the sitar! And, dudes, I love this melody. I almost feel like I'm giving this a 10 just because I recognize it, but ... I do love this song. I think the instrumentation on this is the best on this freaking album. And I like the lyrics, too.

I Shall Be Released 9/10

I shall be released from this album's pernicious jaws of peril. Although a good album with some of the greatest atmosphere in recent memory, it is inherently evil, and I'm glad to finally rid myself of listening to it! This song, the most evil, vilest of them all, says: "Good melody!" and "Good atmosphere!" and then "Now go listen to Journey for all I care."

Send me some comments from the big pink here!