|
23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One day this will be recognised, 21 Feb 2002
By A Customer
I grew up with, and thought I liked, the so called "Dinosaur" bands such as Led Zepellin, Yes, Pink Floyd and the like. About the time of leaving school and going to University there was a lot of talk about punk and we all shrugged it off as being beneath our contempt. I then actually heard "Teenage Depression" by Eddie and the Hot Rods and thought that it actually wasn't too bad, and not that different really.I then sat down one night to watch "The Old Grey" full of the usual west coast middle of the road rubbish with the odd decent track. .....and then they played "Elevation". I immediately realised that what I thought I liked was bland grey and empty. I suddenly thought Jimmy Page can't play a note, or at least if he can play, he can't make it talk. The album itself is not easy to get into. But at some point you will realise that this is the greatest album ever released. "Venus" is a classic and my ten year old son loves it. "Marquee Moon" is just wonderful. "Torn Curtain" is so hard to listen, almost a suicide note, but is touched with genius all the same. The playing throughout is world class. I can't believe that Billy Ficca had to become a waiter to make ends meet. Has there ever been a more accomplished or inventive a drummer. Fred Smith's base was indispensable and anchored the music. Richard Lloyd is the most seriously overlooked guitarist in History. Tom Verlaine is GOD. By the way there is not a single guitar solo on the album. The guitar just takes the place of the lead vocals in the centre of most tracks. I still play this album regularly (and I mean REGULARLY) after 25 years or so, and it never seems to age (unlike myself unfortunately). It certainly sounds more modern than anything current (with the noble exception of The Strokes) I still convince myself that this album will be rediscovered, and Tom Verlaine will get the rich praise he deserves.
|
