Taking My Bottom (By Strategy)

Overall Album Score: 9.3 out of 10

Many critics consider this a bit of a step back for Eno after releasing his solo debut Here Come the Warm Jets. Yet, some critics call this his masterpiece! I'm still not sure where I stand on this issue (which is, in the end, much more important than any topic in American politics) because I think both albums are great! On one hand, Here Comes the Warm Jets was a bit more experimental ... but Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) has better pop melodies. Hm. I would suggest listening to them both and being the judge for yourself. Also, hear all of his other solo albums! ... That is the best thing I can suggest for your life right now. (I'm probably a better social therapist than Dr. Phil. Trust me; if you purchase Brian Eno albums, all your troubles will seem stupid, which they probably are. Let's be honest.)

It's hard to deny that songs like "Back in Judy's Jungle," "Third Uncle" and "The True Wheel" aren't pure greatness. I have an extreme fondness for all three of these that I can't bear to think about which one I like better. "Back in Judy's Jungle" is a weird, pseudo-military song fully equipped with a catchy melody. "Third Uncle" is easily the most furious track of the album, and it might even prompt you to air guitar. "The True Wheel" is an utterly poppy song (on crack, as expected) and the hooks are among the album's strongest.

I must also mention "Taking Tiger Mountain," which is an important song. It's not only a proto-New Age song (possibly the first of its kind), but it points to the more ambient work he would start doing in his next album Another Green World. That's one song you can kick back to and enjoy.

A few weaker tracks are present in the album, but looking at the high-end scores I gave them I obviously still liked them quite a bit. "Mother Whale Eyeless" actually struck me as a bit awkward in a bad way --- with some jerky transitions between completely unrelated sections. Of course, nobody would be surprised to see that from him, but --- it wasn't that great here. "Put a Straw Under Baby" has great instrumentation and nice lyrics, but the experience comes off as slightly boring to me. Um, those are my only two complaints. And those technically aren't even complaints. Those two songs are brilliant!

Whether or not this album is the best or worst of Eno's discography, it's clear that this one's definitely on the high end --- of all music in the history of music.

Overall Album Score: 9.3 out of 10 (I can't decide which Eno album I like better. This or the debut. They're both undeniably great. I'll keep it at a tie.)

Average Song Score: 9.3 (Brian Eno makes great music... There isn't a weak track in the bunch.)

Album Tilt: 9.0 (The reason I'm not raising this is because there are too many moments that just don't jump out at me like they ought to.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (Eno's an art-rock crazy, and I love him for it.)

Track Reviews

Burning Airlines Give You So Much More 9.5/10

This is an odd mid-tempoed tune. (Naturally, everything Eno's going to do is odd --- but I still have to point that out.) For some reason Eno actually focused on trying to write a catchy melody --- almost more than he seemed to concentrate on the oddity. That's always a nice idea. I do like a good tune. But the instrumentation is off kilter in a way that makes it sound --- I dunno --- freaky.

Back in Judy's Jungle 10/10

Now he's getting even more strange. This most memorably features Bridge on the River Kwai style whistling. It's naturally safe to assume that Eno was an evil, freaky genius, and here's all the proof that you need. The quirky instrumentation from the drunken military beat and the crazy synth and guitar noises coming out of the speakers every which way ------ Seriously trying to describe an Eno song seems like an impossible feat. I'm not even going to try. You should try to listen to this thing for yourself if you haven't already! Again, Eno decided to write a great melody. I think you'll enjoy it.

The Fat Lady of Limbourg 9/10

This is a slower song although it's creepy and completely engaging. The sound-effects Eno uses are always ear-catching! I think this song is a bit too slow moving (especially for Eno). Usually, you'd expect him to give a song like this more dynamic evolution. But who's to complain? I'm enjoying this. Especially that weird tango in the middle. Eno's melody is still in pretty good shape --- he writes pretty good for hooks for some reason. He probably didn't have to.

Mother Whale Eyes 8/10

This switches back and forth between a quietly with a strange, pulsating synthesizer and a more upbeat glam tune. The transition between the two is a bit rocky, but it's hardly off-putting to any Eno fan, because we expect him to be weird. Maybe this isn't as brilliantly weird as we hope for? His simple chord progressions are nice, and he has a good hook or two in the melody.

The Great Pretender 9/10

Alright! Back to the crazy sound effects! This doesn't have one of those great melodies like we were getting in much of the previous songs. There's still a melody, but it's not too catchy. But that doesn't really matter because the full-scale weirdness is definitely here. The freakishly odd sound effects and a guitar that sounds like it's played under water are on full display. And who's to say anything bad about those synths at the end that sound a bit like frogs. This guy was a weird synthesizer scientist!

Third Uncle 10/10

This is a great song no matter what you're talking about! Actually, its placement in the album seemed a little strange --- after those frog noises faded out in the previous track. This is a furious pop-rock tune with some guitar licks that sound like their on crack. Eno delivers a vocal performance that sounds nearly like rocking ----- this song is GREAT. That's all I need to say.

Put a Straw Under Baby 8.5/10

It sounds like a tune from a merry-go-round that's low on batteries. Most of the instruments sound like they're off key! Eno sings it like he took a sleeping pill and he's ready to go to bed. This is probably the one song on this album I'm least enthusiastic about, but ... at least it's sleepiness is rather effective. The diversity on the album is staggering --- the previous song was so furious, and this one is so sleepy.

The True Wheel 10/10

One of the great songs on the album is definitely this one. It's one of the greater poppy ones with a melody that's likely to get you tapping your toes immediately when it start to play! The singing is fun --- especially toward the beginning where he brings in some kid singers. The instrumental interlude sections are his typical loopiness that always make these experiences great.

China My China 9/10

My opinion of this track could point to me actually agreeing that this isn't Eno's best work. I refuse to make that complaint, because I still consider this to be a great song! The thing is --- the beginning of it is weird and I'm not really enjoying it. Well, Eno redeems that fully with the instrumental interlude featuring an off-kilter synthesizer and the tapping of typewriters. Those weird ideas is what makes the world go round (since Brian Eno might as well be considered the reason for the world). I have to mention those wicked guitar effects at the end! Woooof!!

Taking Tiger Mountain 10/10

And it all comes to and end! It's appropriate that this calm, synthscape heavy song would appear at the end since his follow-up album would be Another Green World, which is an ambient and instrumental album. It's just the prettiest thing you'd ever want to hear! Eno uses strange synthesizers, but he's trying to soothe us instead of weird us out. Sit back and let these beautiful vibes flow in and out of you. (Hey, Eno's the guy who pretty much invented New Age, so ... here's some proto-Enya forya.)

Take my comment-form by strategy!