One of the most iconic bands of the '60s, the Doors' sound--unique among "psychedelic" bands of the '60s--continues to entertain. Their debut 1967 self-tiled release catapulted them to stardom, with the album peaking at #2 on the Billboard charts.
Included on the album is the 1966 hit single, "Light My Fire", which spent three weeks as the #1 Billboard single. The album version, however is considerably longer, and features an extended solo by keyboardist Ray Mazarek. However, the music is relatively simplistic, and, I feel, lacks a certain degree of excitement. I find the song much more pleasing as a single."Break on Through to the Other Side", the other track from the album released as a single, I find much more pleasing. The lyrics, as with many Doors' songs, are full of references to psychedelic drugs and "turning on." The refrain, and title, "Break on Through to the Other Side" is illustrative of this. The tune is upbeat, and I think Manzarek shines; his tone is quite nice, and, as with most tracks, he plays the bass as well as chordal accompaniment and soloing.
Tracks 5 and 7, "Back Door Man" and "Alabama Song," respectively, are notable for their hedonistic and gritty tone, and dark lyrics, referencing alcoholism and sex with underage girls. The last track, "The End," was much more controversial than either of these, however, with its Oedipal spoken word section. As with all the tracks on the album, "The End" is musically compelling, in my opinion. The lyrics are haunting and intentionally unsettling, and, most importantly, the tones--the sounds of all of the instruments--fit and mold beautifully into a whole.
No comments:
Post a Comment