... This album, although something of an experimental one at the time, was the foundation of a career that would span decades, and as I listen to newer works by Van Morrison, the roots that he created with Astral Weeks still come out in the harmonies and mood of his present work, although of course, ... Read review
century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminalAstral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine ...
century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminal Astral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine...
century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminal Astral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine a form as he would be 20 years hence. In the sociopolitical context of the times, the album cried out about such ubiquitous 1960s themes as cultural oppression and social upheaval. But it is Morrison's vocal dexterity and passion that maintains such timeless appeal. Take tracks like "Madame George" or "Cyprus Avenue" and you'll find such beautiful mourning, it'll be clear why Sinéad O'Connor once publicly exclaimed: "Van Morrison should be friggin' canonized". --Nick Heil
A review by thingywhatsit on Astral Weeks - Van Morrison June 13th, 2005
Author's product rating:
Originality
Groundbreaking
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Timeless classic .
Disadvantages:
None .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I have for many years been a fan of Van Morrison. For me, his music epitomizes the rawness of the sixties, and although he has made many albums since this one, I still believe this to be one of the best that Van Morrison ever created. This album, although something of an experimental one at the time, was the foundation of a career that would span decades, and as I listen to newer works by Van Morrison, the roots that he created with Astral Weeks still come out in the harmonies and mood of his present work, although of course, like with all good artists, his work has evolved into newness. One of the most impressive images that this album produces in my mind is how new and experimental the sixties were, and how artists were encouraged to be inventive, and not merely copiers of earlier styles.
The sheer professionalism of this album doesn't date. Sumptuous strings, guitar and bass create a backdrop to a voice which at that time was new and gave a thick Irish brogue that took the listener into other worlds, other places, oblique thought patterns, seasons, times past, times present, and the dreamlike quality of the images that this music conjures up will never change, or thoughts become stale. The album has passed the test of time and upon each listening, I hear something new and refreshing. Being a classical music fan for many years, I was trained in the art of closing my eyes and using imagination to add image and depth to the music that I listened to, and having done so in this case, the astounding images that the album gave me of places and times, leaves on trees, and the amazing patchwork of colours that make up a human beings life were in vast supply.
Each song on the album is a classically stand alone song, with no theme being created by the Artist.
Track 1 Astral Weeks. (run time 7 minutes).
The words and the challenging way in which the instrumentals compliment them in this track is up-tempo and innovative. The song fills me with an optimism that many newer artists fail to bring out in me, and I believe that the poetic perfection and rhythms of music and heart and soul are what draw me into the song. It is almost like a poets wildest thoughts being put in motion, and you feel lulled along with the music. This is one track that is decidedly a "concentration" track, i.e. one that you need to stop everything to listen to. Yes, sixties music was the beginning of something new and something that would last, and artists such as Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and even Leonard Cohen were putting their poetry into music that would pass the test of time.
Track 2 Beside you (run time 5.10)
Mood and time come into play in this track. It is an evening song, with the hauntingly beautiful words, and melody that takes the mind into thought and reflection. If you close your eyes, you can almost see the shadows of evening and the way in which the time of day alters the reactions of the human mind. Rambling, almost melancholy and sad, what keeps this song together is the harmony and almost spontaneous flow.
Track 3 Sweet Thing (run time 4.10)
Having gone from melancholic sadness in the last track, Van Morrison takes you into the world of conviction in this next song, as you listen to the words that spell belief in what he saying, reinforced by crescendos of background and reinforcement of words. The rhythm of this song is amazing and always fills me with optimism and belief in life, belief in good, belief in the joy of music and words. There is almost a gospel quality to this song, though through the sincerity of his voice rather than any religious connotations.
Track 4 Cyprus Avenue (run time 6.50)
This is where the album changes, not so much in tempo, but in braveness of the artist to express more explicit pictures of places, and experiences of love. The song is typical of many newer Van Morrison songs, but what is so special about this is his leap into the experimental at the time in which the record was made was a risk, and one that paid off. This is Van Morrison at his most outspoken and raw, a new artist that was brave enough to tread where others feared, and the harmonies are amazing. It is almost like you are seeing an artist coming out of the shell of newness into braving voicing feelings in such a memorable way. The tempo of this song compliments so well the song before and after it, and the harmonies created make this piece one of the most memorable on the album.
Track 5 Way Young Lover Do. (run time 3.10)
Of all the tracks on this album, this has to be one of my favourites. It gives you visions of lovers and young love, loss of innocence, though all those emotions that a young person growing up feels, again in a raw and refreshing way that it still refreshing upon each listen. The background music here is sometimes harsh, although with reason, accentuating the way that people feel at that time in their lives when they are discovering life for the first time. It puts me in mind of virginal days, and the realization of adulthood, moody and bluesy but with sufficient tempo to keep the listener absorbed. One of the shortest tracks on the album though for me, one of the most memorable.
Track 6 Madame George (9.25)
One of the longest tracks on the album and one that takes you through a poetic and bluesy dreamlike 9 minutes of thoughts and brings the listener back into reflective, though melancholic mood. A slower pace than the former track, this is one for people who like to be drawn into word play, and the instrumental backing on this track makes it a 9-minute drift in and out of pain, pleasure, and reflection.
This and the final track, Slim Slow Slider, are a melodic and realistic look into emotions that at the age the artist was at the time would have been very real. Do you remember the importance of all the question marks of how important you are in the order of things, how much you love, how much it hurts to be rejected? The one song Ballerina, slides into the final mood of Slim Slow Slider making the voyage of the whole album complete, as if the listener has been taken to the heights, and then back down to the depths as a wonderful finale to a superb album.
Released originally by Warner Brothers, the CD was released in 1990 and is available for as little as £8.00
For those beginning their experimentation with music, this is one of the best collections of songs produced in an era that took music in many directions, all valid in their own ways, though comparable in quality and substance as works by Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. To me, this will always be amongst my collection of what modern music is about.
Musicians: Van Morrison: Guitar/Keyboards/Saxophone/Vocal Richard Davis: Bass John Payne: Flute Jay Berliner: Guitar Connie Kay: Drums Lewis Merenstein: Producer Warren Smith: Percussion
A superb classic and one that will widen the listener's perspective on music, as well as pleasing the ear.
Advantages: Every song a pearl, musically, lyrically and in performance and production Disadvantages: Not for techno-lovers
Astral Weeks (1968) was Van the Man's first real album, and deserves its place in musical history for its accomplishment, innovation, fusion of styles, resonant storytelling lyrics and Van's unique, emotive voice.
Though sometimes referred to as a 'rock' album, Astral Weeks contains none of the grinding guitars and pounding drumbeats one would expect from such a description. Instead the songs are rich in strings, horns and acoustic guitars, creating ... ...songs are equally beautiful and inspired, dealing with timeless themes of love, childhood, beauty, spirituality and, above all, feeling.
Astral Weeks more than stands the test of time and paves the way for the emotiona;/spiritual themes and musical genres explored by Van Morrison in his long and diverse carreer. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: What a voice! That's MOrrison's voice and the music just follow the voice Disadvantages: To short.
Born in Belfast (Northern Ireland), Van Morrison was steeped in the sounds of American folk & blues from his youth. By age 11 he had mastered guitar, sax, and harmonica and began perfoprming with skiffle bands in local dance halls.
In the swinging '60's he joined the Monarchs and toured U.S air bases in West Germany. Beginning to improve himself versus different public and american buddies.
Then he returned to Belfast, he formed Them, one of the ... ...huge hits like "Don't Start Crying Now", "Baby Please Don't Go" and "Here Comes The Night" and the wonderful international hit "Gloria" so many times covered by main artists as The Doors, Patti Smith, U2 but according to me never as well as Van himself...
After Them disbanded, Van Morrison rebegan a solo carreer.
And one of the best album he recorded is "ASTRAL WEEK" less than 2 days after arrival in NYC.
Only 8 songs but you can feel all the ...
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This was once described as on of the top ten rock albums of all time. Unusual for an album that contains no electric instrumentation at all. The reviewer went on to say that Moondance, it's successor, was even better.
I sort of agree , but then my top ten albums of all time will probably contain about a hundred discs.
This was his debut album proper, after leaving Them.
Every track on this album is absolutely brilliant. Yes its laid back, and ...
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Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it compare to ...
Value for Money
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21.01.2001
(23.03.2001)
Van the man!! Review ofAstral Weeks - Van Morrisonby
raincheck_uk
Advantages: The best van album ever Disadvantages: None.
As i have said before i am totally addicted to Van Morrison. The guy is a genious.
This is vans first solo album Van released when he finally escaped the clutches of Bert Berns and the Bang label. I think that this album is special because it was the first album that Van could do his own thing on and really lose him self. They recorded each song as live rather than each musician individually so there is a real atmosphere to the album. In some songs ... ...but that really just adds to the whole magic of the album. And its all accoustic.
The album is very spiritual, philosophical and poetic which i guess is typical Van the man, but this is the album where he does it best. Each song sweeps you into the next. Some sweeping faster than others, some making you want to hear them just once more before you allow the track to flow to the next one. When i put this album on i just feel like doing nothing, but ...
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Advantages: You'll love this album forever Disadvantages: You'll keep thinking you've lost it as it will be in the CD player and not in it's case.
When this album was first recommended to me I listened to it and thought what a waste of £5. However, upon listening to it again some of the songs began to appeal to me, subsequent sessions listening to Van the man strut his stuff in his unique way I have come to love this album and regard it as one of the best 10 albums I own.
It's the type of music that eveyone needs in their collection, a album that you can either put on at a resonable level ... ...again, or it can be used for background music, when freinds come over or in the garden on a warm summers evening. You can easlity loose yourself in the emotion of the music which can, for me anyway, lead to sometimes unwelcome bouts of nostalgia, but hey sometimes drunken tears are the best.
This was Vans first album since leaving Them in 1967 and I would consider it alongside Tracy Chapmans eponymously titled first album as one of the best debuts ...
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Advantages: An underrated album that has revealed new strengths over the years Disadvantages: Some weak tracks don't get any better with age
...It’s always interesting to re-evaluate albums released more than 20 or 30 years ago, albums that were either neglected or written off at the time for one reason or another. VanMorrison’s ‘AstralWeeks’ is a classic example. ‘Extra Texture’, though definitely no ground-breaker, is another.
George Harrison’s last recording for the Beatles’ ill-fated Apple label, released in the autumn of 1975 (and the last album on Apple, apart from compilations that winter by John Lennon and Ringo Starr), was grudgingly hailed at the time as not bad – but only by default as its predecessor, ‘Dark Horse’, had been such a disappointment. I didn’t care for it much at the time, but having bought it recently on CD and listened to it properly for the first time for years, it sounds...
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Extra Texture (Read All About It) - George Harrison
Product details
Title: Astral Weeks
Performer: Van Morrison
Genre: Rock & Pop
Sub Genre: Singer/Songwriter
Release Date: 01/1995
Recomended Retail Price: 7.99 GBP
Original Release Year: 1969
Label / Distributor: Warner Bros. / Cinram Logistics
Producer: Lewis Merenstein
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 75992717625
Catalogue Number: 7599271762
SPAR code: AAD
Additional notes
Album Notes: Personnel includes: Van Morrison (vocals, acoustic guitar); Larry Fallon (arranger); Jay Berliner (guitar); John Payne (flute, soprano saxophone); Warren Smith, Jr. (vibraphone, percussion); Richard Davis (bass); Connie Kay (drums). Recorded in New York. Includes liner notes by Van Morrison. Quoted, recommended, and worshipped by the critics for decades, this underground masterpiece has now become part of the establishment. It cries to be listened to without interruption, which may explain why it failed to reach either the UK or US charts. It wanders and weaves, repeating themes and lyrics as if one song, yet we never tire of "gardens wet with rain," "champagne eyes," or the wonder of how Morrison can make a place like Ladbroke Grove seem so hauntingly evocative. This all-acoustic but fully arranged record is also a great educator in opening your eyes beyond pop, to folk, soul, and jazz, and although (or perhaps because) Morrison continues to return to its themes again and again, this is his core.
Album Reviews: NME (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #15 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.' Q (6/00, p.89) - Ranked #6 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" - "...Its musical daring, mantra-like incantations and kaleidoscopic use of language [is] still beyond cosy categorization....recalling his provincial, '50s Belfast youth with an almost feverish imigination and regret..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Astral Weeks
2.: Beside You
3.: Sweet Thing
4.: Cyprus Avenue
5.: Young Lovers Do
6.: Madame George
7.: Ballerina
8.: Slim Slow Rider
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Listed on Ciao since : 28/06/2000
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