Classic Rock Discussion thread, including Catfish's Top 20 Lists.

[catfish1957]

Classic Rock Album of the Day- Black Sabbath- Paranoid (1970) ****

Sadly, a cornerstone of heavy metal passed away today (Ozzy Osbourne).   For nearly 60 years he and his other mates much more set up trends and fashions in heavy metal.  Hell....   they invented the metal genre single handedly. Very few can make that claim in musical history.  I have previously discussed that the first two LP's including these, seemed more around setting the foundations...   I personally (and again personally ) was more of a fan of their 3rd and 4th albums Master of Reality and Volume 4.  These seem to distance themselves away more from what a critic might call shtick, and forayed more into substantial themes and more complex musically, and a slight more chaotic structure.  Again, the merits  of these first 4 can be debated forever,  but there are many of of us boys born of the late 1950's who literally cheered when the sappy hippy flower power shit finally died after incessant repetition and near parody. We were collectively laughing at hippies and their silly band names and themes.  And most of these were so repetitiously awful in their strawberry fruit gum tambourine themes.   Were Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper anti- heros?  Not in our book.  Time had passed the hippies up, and it was our turn to say which direction music should take.

I saw the band on February 10, 1984 (minus Ozzy) Even without OZ, it cannot be minimized that the core 3 musicians to me were the true heart and soul of BS.  No diss on Osbourne, but minus the decibels, it was a true delight to see this band.,  I mean, I had to make sure when I got my guitar it had to be a maroon Gibson SG....  just like Iommi.  But there is one main point that cannot be argued.  Osbourne is one of the greatest showmen and brands in classic rock.  From music, to reality TV, he was one of the most recognizable member of the band, and did more to seal its legacy.  Which leads to me what just happened last week.   I had strongly went on record saying this was an embarrassment.  And at ground level it sure seemed that way,  But in retrospect, I feel bad in the fact, I think Ozzy more than anything wanted to say goodbye to his fans.  And at intent, I now admire his grit and determination to pull it off.  It was not pretty or pleasant, but he did it under his own terms.  RIP Mr. Osborne.

Paranoid as an LP, can be arguably described as the first "PURE" successful "PURE" Heavy Metal work.   No one had ever sounded like them, though thousands and thousands like them since.  As stated earlier, a really really good album, though I preferred Vol. 4's level overall melodic complexity.  Some of Tony Iommi's epic riffs may be more recognizable, but that time frame of 1971 and 1972 were my personal wheelhouse of Sabbath at their best.

Fun Fact:   Everyone knows my distaste for Rolling Stone Magazine, but in 2017 they named Paranoid as the greatest metal album ever made.

Side 1-
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War Pigs-  Song reeks of dystopia, suffering, and a landscape laid waste bound by metal mayhem.   In 1970, the anti-war lyrics didn't end with the advent of Metal.  Except this wasn't in the form of flowers, bell bottoms, and peace signs.  This was a tune that took the theme to a more biting approach, and the infused metal was highly effective in that effort.  Iommi laid some great almost phased echoing riffs which were highly innovative at the time, and Geezer's sternum rattling thunder just seals it. 3

Paranoid-  Band nicely works some hook into one of the band's early standards.  Every member contributes as Iommi screams one of his best early solos too.  2

Planet Caravan- Very eerie change of pace into a slow rolling in a barrel-ish that was there more for an intent of inferred versatility instead of driving the train still in 4th gear.  Was it a mistake?  Kinda....  6

Iron Man- When a song made 10000 miles away can make groups of dozens of American 12-15 year old boys singing in unison in admiration?  This wasn't music..... It was   a cultural readjustment.  1

Side 2-
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Electric Funeral-  Repetio-riffy low key and  staying strong to the theme.   Hits all the buttons, including an ax grinding finish that puts the buttons  in chaos.  4

Hand of Doom-  With a tinge of blues infused into metal?  I wasn't exactly enamored, but. in this album, the worst song would be one of the best of another band.  Just because it is worst ranked does not make if fully unlistenable- 8

Rat Salad- You could always count on Sabbath for a few instrumentals on each album- Yes they got better at it though.  7

Faeries Wear Boots- Band ends the album with one of their enigmas.  As a kid, I always that this one was about gays.  Seems there may have been a hallucinogenic angle to it too.  Many liked this one, I was kind of lukewarm on it, as far as its greatness in Sabbath lore.  5


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ66x2GRGH8&list=RDPZ66x2GRGH8&start_radio=1

[berdie]

I realize this a tribute, and I appreciate it!. I've missed your reviews @catfish1957 !

[catfish1957]

I realize this a tribute, and I appreciate it!. I've missed your reviews @catfish1957 !

Thanks @berdie, I appreciate it.  Traffic on thread slowed so wasn't sure how many were interested.

[bigheadfred]

I really appreciate your reviews as well @catfish1957

[catfish1957]

I really appreciate your reviews as well @catfish1957

Thanks @bigheadfred . 

[LMAO]

Thanks @berdie, I appreciate it.  Traffic on thread slowed so wasn't sure how many were interested.

@catfish1957

I don’t post much anymore but I swing by to read @Hoodat Ukraine thread and your classic rock thread. I thought you gave up on it because it’s been awhile since I’ve seen anything here

So keep on posting

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

I don’t post much anymore but I swing by to read @Hoodat Ukraine thread and your classic rock thread. I thought you gave up on it because it’s been awhile since I’ve seen anything here

So keep on posting

@LMAO

Thanks so much.  Very kind.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koiX_Wspatw
For you @catfish1957 , to occupy your retirement years.

[catfish1957]

For you @catfish1957 , to occupy your retirement years.

Kind of ambivalent.  Happy, but realize that if the dust and rust is too heavy this could be bad too.   I still have awful visuals of Ozzy being wheeled during his last gig.   

Oddest thing about the tour is their choice of Drummers.  (Can you imagine filling in for Peart?).  I'd guess someone like Portnoy, Grohl, or Carrey.

Instead Geddy and Alex chose this young lady....  Annika Niles.  Who appears to be an up and coming prog drummer.  Had not heard of her until today.  There will be only 12 tour dates so this one will be a tough to attend expensive show.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I understand, it is not the same.

Having said that, I still kick myself for not seeing the Who when I had the chance while living in London.

And Geddy's fingers on that guitar still seems nimble.

BTW, you can afford it now, and don't have to raid the petty cash for tickets we both did in younger times.

[catfish1957]

[IsailedawayfromFR]

[catfish1957]

Classic Rock Album of the Day-  Rush- Snakes and Arrows (2007) ****

I have chosen this particular work to honor and commemorate the loss of the Professor who we lost  6 years ago tomorrow  The loss is reverberates ongoing within the halls of us prog fans.  And if you look at the YT counts, you can see that his and Rush's legacy has not diminished at all since.  There has been big news recently of a comeback tour from the band, which I will touch on later on this review. 

I gave a lot of thought to which one I wanted to cover, and it was between this and their last.  Only for the fact, I haven't covered much of their latter work.  Clockwork Angels has too much of a melancholy feel.  I don't know how much is due to content versus knowing this was the end.  So, honestly I didn't really want to spend an hour rehashing that aspect of their catalog. 

There is a lot to love about this album, though it doesn't have that "near perfection"" feel of decades earlier.  It almost might be the most Un-prog work of the band in the Peart era.  My theory is that they were still in "Feedback" mode, and feeling their hard rocking side.  Granted, there are Prog undertones and an orchestrative brush that IMO gives it an almost unique feel in the band's creative repertoire. I guess my biggest bitch overall about the songs, is that Peart's lyrics though as usual are spectacular on the philosophical front seem forced in the context of how they interphase with the music. OTOH,  I also enjoy that Geddy seems to have the keyboard more as a effective and minimal participant in the process rather than the focus.    I can not also hide the fact of how much I love how mellotrons were used.....   especially and again in that orchestrative perspective.  I would also be amiss, not mentioning that Alex sears some awesome guitar work that is just the icing on the cake.  He is the quiet musical muse that goes on like a background.   Greatness is too minimal of a description of this band's abilities, impact, and legacy.  I have a feeling my great great grandchildren will be rocking to "2112" in 2112. 

And I ask has there been a more incredibly hard drum part made in the past 20 years than "Far Cry"?  The 3X syncopative fills and side fills that augment the other parts is jaw dropping.  Drumming to this is  like a difficulty with trying to conduct calligraphy with your off hand. The mind just isn't designed to manage that level of complexity.

And on the topic of the Rush Comeback.....   You can't deny being excited by knowing Alex and Geddy will be performing Rush tunes again.  Even with a surrogate.  I don't know much about the young lady, but it hard to match this level of audacity trying to replace who many believe is the greatest rock drummer in history.  I sure wouldn't want to fill those shoes.....   IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.  Secondly, I think the memories of Ozzy being sadly and pathetically wheeled around for Sabbath's last gig should be still fresh in our minds.  Will this hurt Rush's legacy?  That debate will go on for years.  And thirdly, and lastly.....   Looking at Alex and Geddy at the Southpark Reunion, and the Hawkins concert tribute indicates that they have accumulated way to much rust or have lost enough skills and range to pull it off.  Geddy's voice especially.  When Nostalgia and Legacy clash....   One has to win. I hope they made the right decision.

Fun Fact:  More of a shout out...   Props to the legendary graphic artist Hugh Syme, who designed every single Rush album cover. His Chagall like work was ingenious with the intent of the album.  I feel from an art POV, this was his best. 

Track No.
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1. Far Cry-  The Crown jewel of not only this album, but maybe the final 20 years of Rush.  This song hits the listener like a 2 X 4, while still conveying a level of complexity, and upper tier greatness in. musicianship.  Seeing the circuits blowing was as apt of a statement Rush made.  The almost subliminal improv aura in this tune is fabulous.  1

2. Armor and Sword- Sticking with the themeing and complexity style, the band hits another Homer.  I see Peart's almost beg for redemption in his lyrics on this among others from prior Libertarian POV.  Song very nicely ebbs and flows between balladry and hard rocking.  The all hell breaking loose at the end is worth the price of admission on this one,.  3

3. Working The Angels- Masterful songwriting continues.  Power ballad on steroids,.  Song almost has that ultimate handle on self retrospection that Peart seemed to obsess on the last half of his career. Who could have blamed him.  What he went through post 1997 would break 95% of us.  What made Rush so great was their ability to genre shift on the fly so effortlessly, so effectively.  2

4. The Larger Bowl- A "10" on style and innovation.  But aesthetics?  Nope.  Sap factor?  10.  This obviously isn't filler, but expectations of Rush?  I think you get the picture.  9

5. Spindrift- AOR-ish stuff.  No new ground broken here.  Not filler either, just not a great tune.,   10

6. The Main Monkey Business- Post '80 Rush pretty much always had one or tow obligatory instrumentals. This album has 3.  Some good chaotic riffing at the end, but  Lavilla Strangiato this isn't 12

7.  The Way the Wind Blows-  Dial the switch over to bluezy hard rock-ish, to middle east tones?  This mish mash doesn't work well, and is about as close to fill that is on this CD. 13

8. Hope- Nicely done acoustical instrumental ditty in S-S ballad mode, ... has a slight LZ III feel to me. 5

9-  Faithless- Did I mention how much I love Mellotron?-  It's use in the chorus works well, and Lifeson's solo in what has to be his ES355 is excellent.  7

10. Bravest Face-  The most audacious song on the CD.  The most slightest off-tuneish approach is almost grunge in nature.  I love the innovation, but it's not really not that great of a song.  11

11. Good News First- Does re-riff some Far Cry aspects.  Style point for mello, and seamless transitions.  8

12. Malignant Narcissism-  Got to me a top 10 Rush tune for air drummers.  Dizzying   Best instrumental on the album. 4

13. We Hold On- Kind of a semi-sleeper.  Controlled "all hell breaking out"  Song comes across effortless though putting the pen to the paper to the music yells Uber- Complex.  6


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf0vmfqsqFw&list=RDbf0vmfqsqFw&start_radio=1