Album of the Week #14: Love - Forever Changes
This is Album of the Week #14 ~ This week's album is Love - Forever Changes
Year of Release: 1967
Genre(s): Psychedelic Pop
Country: United States
Length: 42 minutes
RYM | Listen! (Album.Link)
Excerpt from AV Club:
Forever Changes, for all of its gorgeous balladry, layered acoustic guitars, and silky string arrangements, is filled with passion and angst. 1967 may have been The Summer Of Love, but Forever Changes dismantles any notions of free love and social change. Opening track “Alone Again Or” boasts the overtly hippie line “You know that I could be in love with almost everyone.” Love pulls off a bait-and-switch though, undercutting that line just moments later with, “and I will be alone again tonight, my dear,” a line that closes every verse and positions the album as one of isolation and disconnect.
Discussion points:
Have you heard this artist/album before? Is this your first time hearing?
Do you enjoy this genre? Is this an album you would have chosen?
Does this album remind you of something you've heard before?
What were the album's strengths or weaknesses?
Was there a standout track for you?
How did you hear the album? Where were you? What was your setup?
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I mostly enjoyed this although it really seems like a product of its time for me. I appreciate how there were some tongue in cheek lyrics for this one, because otherwise the overall cheesy late 60s vibe would have been a bit overwhelming. Some songs were good - the trumpet in the opening track and Maybe the People was fun, and I enjoyed the lyrics on a song like The Daily Planet as being representative of the times. A lot of the guitar was also nice if not particularly outstanding.But other songs (Old Man, the Good Humor Man) are just cheesy 60s songs through and through.
I am reminded of Donovan and early Doors. I am glad I'm listening to the remastered version because I have to think the 60s era production would have done this album no favors for me. So I'd recommend it if you're interested in the era or if you can abide by some of the late 60s vibes, but I think this album was enough for me.
I hope everyone reading has a nice day, thanks for the posts as always :)
Not a lot to say about this album, since it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Most of the tracks were reasonably pleasant, but still really cheesy, as I find most 60s/70s psychedelic folk-pop/rock to be. And the lead singer's higher register (e.g. Old Man) was also not great, IMO. So I found all the tracks where he sang in that higher pitch to be rather grating, unless he had someone harmonizing with him to take the edge off. But even the harmonizing was not amazing, so it only helped so much.
All in all, not horrible, but not my favorite. My favorite track was Bummer in the Summer, which was very Rolling Stones-esque. But overall, they kinda reminded me of Fleet Foxes, but not nearly as good at singing, harmonizing, or writing compelling songs/lyrics as them. ;)