"John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" - vote please!!
- Diamond Dog
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"John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" - vote please!!
The third in an occasional series of 'classic' albums, we arrive at the first 'real' Lennon solo album, released in 1970.
So, what do you think of it now? Has it stood the test of time? Is it his best solo album? what's your favourite track, and why? Debate and vote on, please!!
So, what do you think of it now? Has it stood the test of time? Is it his best solo album? what's your favourite track, and why? Debate and vote on, please!!
Last edited by Diamond Dog on 12 Feb 2009, 18:04, edited 1 time in total.
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He was one of the most middle class musicians to come out of Merseyside so I find it a tad incongrous for him to assume the mantle of the working class hero. But I voted it for another reason entirely (and no not using that word either).
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Wow! I always considered "POB" a well regarded and classic album. If anything, I just love the hollowed out, bare bones production style. I couldn't pick a favorite song; I always take the album as a whole. John Lennon's tendency to personalize his work (that is, write songs about being John) wears on me a bit ("Help!" is okay, but "The Ballad of John and Yoko" is bit too self-mythologizing).
I think "POB" works because it is consistent in its aims, and you can tell that the band, like a lot of Dylan's stuff, was learning the songs as the tape was rolling. There's a little "POB" in everything from Bowie's "Five Years" to Nirvana's "Serve the Servants".
It beats the hell out of "Mind Games". I'll take "POB" over that mush anyday.
I think "POB" works because it is consistent in its aims, and you can tell that the band, like a lot of Dylan's stuff, was learning the songs as the tape was rolling. There's a little "POB" in everything from Bowie's "Five Years" to Nirvana's "Serve the Servants".
It beats the hell out of "Mind Games". I'll take "POB" over that mush anyday.
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The heart of this album for me is tracks 3-6 and it is very hard for me to pick from those. I can understand the views of some of the dissenters on this thread, especially when looking at some of the under-developed stuff like "Hold On" and "Well Well Well" (though, there is a certain ragged charm to those tracks that if in the right mood I can enjoy). But the four tracks I mentioned and "Mother" are among the real highlights of Lennon's solo work.
I think I'll go with "Isolation". The dig at Paul (?) on the bridge ("I don't expect you to understand...") is probably the most objective Lennon allowed himself to be in song about that bitter rift. Victims of the insane. It's also great for the combination of fragility and defiance, the type of thing that very few others could honestly pull off.
The whole thing is such a singular work, which may be a good thing. Even its great fans wouldn't probably want a whole lot of other albums to sound like it. That's one of the reasons it probably stands as such an immediately accepted classic album (though maybe not with this community, huh?). Its sui generis nature assures that it stands out maybe more so than its actual consistency of quality in the songs. "Imagine" is probably the better album, but "Plastic Ono Band" will eternally be considered the cooler choice.
I think I'll go with "Isolation". The dig at Paul (?) on the bridge ("I don't expect you to understand...") is probably the most objective Lennon allowed himself to be in song about that bitter rift. Victims of the insane. It's also great for the combination of fragility and defiance, the type of thing that very few others could honestly pull off.
The whole thing is such a singular work, which may be a good thing. Even its great fans wouldn't probably want a whole lot of other albums to sound like it. That's one of the reasons it probably stands as such an immediately accepted classic album (though maybe not with this community, huh?). Its sui generis nature assures that it stands out maybe more so than its actual consistency of quality in the songs. "Imagine" is probably the better album, but "Plastic Ono Band" will eternally be considered the cooler choice.
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geoffcowgill wrote:The whole thing is such a singular work, which may be a good thing. Even its great fans wouldn't probably want a whole lot of other albums to sound like it. That's one of the reasons it probably stands as such an immediately accepted classic album (though maybe not with this community, huh?). Its sui generis nature assures that it stands out maybe more so than its actual consistency of quality in the songs. "Imagine" is probably the better album, but "Plastic Ono Band" will eternally be considered the cooler choice.
Amen, brother. Amen!
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This is actually the only Beatles-related album I own. I bought it about 10 years ago as I saw it going cheap and Chris Knox (a major NZ music figure) was always prattling on about it, so I was curious.
I've played it about three times since and still can't figure out if it's a load of weak, self-indulgent cack, or great album loaded with brilliant soul-bearing, cathartic songs, blah, blah, blah.
I'm actually more curious to here the Yoko solo album that I understand goes by the same name, with the same cover art, etc, as it's supposed to be quite experimental, weird, etc. (Or "shite" as you may see it).
I've played it about three times since and still can't figure out if it's a load of weak, self-indulgent cack, or great album loaded with brilliant soul-bearing, cathartic songs, blah, blah, blah.
I'm actually more curious to here the Yoko solo album that I understand goes by the same name, with the same cover art, etc, as it's supposed to be quite experimental, weird, etc. (Or "shite" as you may see it).
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Scanning the list I realised I only know two of the songs off this album! I really must give it a listen sometime!
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Love is ok, I'm not a big fan of Working Class Hero. I'll vote when I'm better qualified!
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