Astral Weeks, wow many mentions. I'd say if you don't like AW you don't like Van Morrison. Even if there's nothing else quite like it in his catalog aside from Veedon Fleece, that's the essence of his music.
The surround sound version of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells has never had another spin since my first listen. I was dismayed on hearing that he'd re-recorded some parts and had excised some (albeit) small sections altogether. I love the album the way it was, when it was released nearly fifty years ago. I found his changes completely unnecessary and, for me, they ruined what should've been a great listening experience.
Bon Jovi - New Jersey. I kind of liked "Bad Medicine" at the time and gave it a shot. Then I gave it away.
My brother-in-law loaned me Pink Floyd's Animals ...geez, the most depressing album I've ever heard. He must hate me, or thinks I'm way too happy.
Opeth - In Cauda Venenum There was a time when Opeth didn't bore me to tears. This album just doesn't do anything for me and I couldn't be bothered to go back and check if anything would grab me the second time.
While I wouldn't go that far, I would claim that it at least is crucial to really get his music. I should know, because before I finally understood Astral Weeks last summer, I was somewhat lukewarm to most of his albums not named St Dominic's Preview, Moondance, Common One and It's Too Late to Stop Now. Bonus points for mentioning Veedon Fleece. Which for some reason reminds me of early Thin Lizzy. Must be the Oirish in 'em. And I loved that one from the first time I heard it.
Brian Wilson Presents Smile. I have a couple of his solo albums and of course, the Beach Boys. I bought this one based on all the accolades without having heard it. I sat down with this and listened to it carefully. When it was over I thought there was nothing I heard I would want to hear again. Ever. The cringe worthy lyrics alone was enough to cause me to put it on the shelf and leave it there. I still respect him and love much of the Beach Boys. Just not this one.
Not gonna guess how many years it's been since I played it, but I still have confidence in my ability to sing along with Larry. "In the year of 1961..." "Jennifer Jones is lying dead on my porch, doot do..." "LIKE A CIRCLE, BABY!"
Have never knowingly heard it; The Wall was 'great' for completely destroying whatever interest in PF I had left since the days of DSOTM...
I was saved from that one; 'even getting paid to do so' would be no inducement to me to take home ANYTHING by them.
Bought this recently because it was everywhere in youth clubs in the UK in the late 1960s. Horrible, dated, brainless, manic versions of soul classics.
I saw mention of this somewhere in recent days; "manic" is a word likely to make me MORE interested, not less!
