Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

Kerre Li (xix) · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:00 am

is this a "must own"?
in general, I consider Van Morrison totally annoying but it seems so seminal...

no guru · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:59 am

Don't bother. It's one of the greatest albums ever recorded, but if you already find him annoying, it's not gonna convert you (depending on how many Van Morrison songs you already know, I guess).

paper · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:03 pm

Stone red's dark sunshine · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1096

XIX Wrote:

is this a "must own"?
in general, I consider Van Morrison totally annoying but it seems so seminal...

Are you annoyed by him due to "Brown Eyed Girl" or other songs? If you don't like his voice, frosted is right, this will not convert you. But he's also right that it's an excellent album, but keep in mind musically it is nothing like "Brown Eyed Girl."

shmoo · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:27 pm

Stone Wrote:

XIX Wrote:

is this a "must own"?
in general, I consider Van Morrison totally annoying but it seems so seminal...

Are you annoyed by him due to "Brown Eyed Girl" or other songs? If you don't like his voice, frosted is right, this will not convert you. But he's also right that it's an excellent album, but keep in mind musically it is nothing like "Brown Eyed Girl."

Seconded. Awesome album, "Brown Eyed Girl" is annoying. If you know other stuff and are still annoyed, don't get it. If it's just the karaoke hit, get it. Or try it first. I bet you can stream it for free on Napster.

Dick Meatwood · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:17 pm

Astral Weeks is also very different from the Moondance-type stuff like "Everyone". A lot of the songs are more sprawling and freeform on AW. I don't think his big hits and singles bear a whole lot of resemblance to the general feeling of AW.

While what everyone else has said about his voice holds true, I wouldn't say "don't bother". Even if you hate it, I'd say something like this is worth listening to at least once if not necessarily buying. That said, I never fell in love with this record the way a lot of people have, but it's something I respect and enjoy whenever I put it on.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

check it out from your local library?

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

I really can't imagine not liking Van Morrison but at the same time if you don't I wouldn't bother checking this album out. Despite loving Van Morrison and owning more albums from VM than any other artist, I've got to say Astral Weeks is overrated. I can understand why this is considered his most important work, but I don't get why so many people prefer actually listening to this over over VM albums. I'm not sure I'd even put in my top five favorite VM works.

harry · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:29 pm

Perhaps a little bit of a minority report here... if you don't like him, and find him annoying, absolutely get Astral Weeks a listen to it a lot. If you still don't like it, kill yourself, do the planet a favor and help with global warming... check out, pull the cutains, turn off the lights... because no one who dislikes AW shouldn't be taking up the limited amount of air we have left.

Or perhaps a bit more gently put, AW has a scope and relentless hunger for transcendence that is a good introduction to the celtic soul of Mr. Morrison.

beachy · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:37 pm

harry Wrote:

... if you don't like him, and find him annoying, absolutely get Astral Weeks a listen to it a lot. If you still don't like it, kill yourself, do the planet a favor and help with global warming... check out, pull the cutains, turn off the lights... because no one who dislikes AW shouldn't be taking up the limited amount of air we have left.

That
was
awesome

Kingfish · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:57 am

this thread confirms what I've long suspected.

Z · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm **Posts:** 7979

i saw it for very cheap in a used bin last year and figured "why not?" eh, it's ok. but i don't think i've listened to it more than twice.

pollysix · **Joined:** Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:56 am **Posts:** 5174

It converted me. I grew up hearing "Brown-Eyed Girl" and other "white blues" songs from him circa 1989 and thought he was just awful. Years later a friend gave me a tape with "Sweet Thing" on it--which I listened to repeatedly. It wasn't until about 3 years ago that I finally broke down & bought "Astral Weeks". Now I'd say it's in my top 10 albums.

PS - It's not like it's suddenly cured me of my desire to barf at weddings whenever "Brown Eyed Girl" comes on, I just love it as its own thing.

PPS - His work with Them is, of course, totally amazing but in an entirely different way

bluejayway · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:09 pm

I like about half of it a good bit, and find half of it a bit leaden, but I also have no real love for the man and think it's notably different and better than most of his output.

FT · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:17 pm

billy g Wrote:

Despite loving Van Morrison...I've got to say Astral Weeks is overrated...I don't get why so many people prefer actually listening to this over over VM albums. I'm not sure I'd even put in my top five favorite VM works.

I am RIGHT THERE WITH YA, beeg!

I just can't get why people fawn over Astral Weeks so much.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:22 pm

HoP/RPB drummer Dave considers this one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded.
I've listened to it a couple of times and am still warming up to it; it's certainly different from most VM stuff... pretty much a pure jazz album, with pop/rock/R&B vocals.

I can see its greatness, but am still a step or two away from enjoying it. It is growing on me, though.

Radcliffe · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:35 pm

PopTodd Wrote:

pretty much a pure jazz album, with pop/rock/R&B vocals.

Yep, that's pretty much what makes it such a landmark album. But historical context aside, it's still amazing music. It conjures up a very singular mood though, so it's not something that you just throw in your iPod on random.

It's also crying out for a serious remastering, if only to better hear the bass.

Wikipedia Wrote:

Producer Lewis Merenstein had a background in jazz, and according to Merenstein, Morrison "was not an aficionado of jazz when I met him. R&B and soul, yes; but jazz, no." For these sessions, Merenstein first contacted veteran bassist Richard Davis. Perhaps best known for his work with Eric Dolphy, Davis was essentially the session leader, and it was through Davis that Merenstein was able to recruit guitarist Jay Berliner, percussionist Warren Smith, Jr., and drummer Connie Kay. All of these musicians had strong backgrounds in jazz; Berliner had worked closely with Charles Mingus and Kay was part of the Modern Jazz Quartet.

My feeling is that if you don't have Astral Weeks you should buy it - and if it turns out you don't like it, you can always re-gift it to somebody with ears.

e-stone · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:55 pm

Radcliffe Wrote:

My feeling is that if you don't have Astral Weeks you should buy it - and if it turns out you don't like it, you can always re-gift it to somebody with ears.

haha...awesome.

not only the best van morrison album, but one of the best album's of all time. IMOTAROC.

pollysix · **Joined:** Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:56 am **Posts:** 5174

All of what Radcliffe said, especially the part about the bass. The bass on that record is sick.

Pop Todd, I certainly wouldn't call it a "pure jazz" record. There's a real psych-folk vibe to it as well. And as Radcliffe said, it's the fusion of it all that makes it so incredible.

It is a true "album". One that deserves and maybe even demands a real listen. Sit down with you head right there inbetween your speakers in the sweet spot and listen all the way through.

Here's the seminal Lester Bangs essay on it:

http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/reviews/astral.html

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:50 pm

my gf made me get it. I don't dislike it, but i clearly bought it because of her and prob would never listen to it on my own.

Kingfish · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:33 pm

I love Astral Weeks. Classic. I know it's not very indie but I love Moondance. It's hard to say what my favorite Van albums are considering most of them aren't in print (at least I don't think).

harry · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:00 am

grossman lol Wrote:

I just can't get why people fawn over Astral Weeks so much.

Because it is sublime? Alters consciousness? Is the naked yearning for transcendence of the young hippie spirit? Is the Celtic missing link with free jazz? Captures the essence of an unusual time and place? Other than that....

Soylent Green for you too.

Dalen · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:06 am

f r o s t e d Wrote:

It's one of the greatest albums ever recorded

no guru · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:14 am

Old Kingfish Lee Wrote:

this thread confirms what I've long suspected.

That many of us are old, fat and white?

seafoam · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:08 am

XIX Wrote:

is this a "must own"?
in general, I consider Van Morrison totally annoying but it seems so seminal...

Why bother . . . if you feel so compelled to attempt to convince yourself just check out some songs off the net, but annoying is quite a hurdle to jump. And, if Sweet Thing does n't do it for you, well then, I'd just stay away, very far away from any VM.

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

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