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9 January 2014
10.42pm
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trcanberra
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Billy Rhythm said

trcanberra said

Kel said
I just FINALLY purchased ‘Brainwashed‘.

Hard to believe it took me so long… George Harrison provided the soundtrack of my life.

Call me a wuss, but I will probably cry listening to it.

Same – but it is on my ever-growing stack – which I am chipping away at chronologically.  I do like the songs I have heard from it though.

 

 

I’m astonished that so many haven’t heard this album yet, it was a “no-brainer” day-one purchase for me that I couldn’t wait to load up into the disc tray.  I mean, a new album by George?!  While he’s no longer with us!?  That first listen back in November 2002 was a very memorable one for me, as I said all ready, “‘Brainwashed‘ IS his best album”!…:-) 

I went 20 years without buying a CD – that John thing about life is what happens while making other plans – so true.

 

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14 January 2014
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Here’s a nice little clip featuring Dhani & Jeff discussing the making of the album…:-)

14 January 2014
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This one took a while to grow on me, as did some of his later albums.  I really like from All Things Must Pass to Extra Texture , Extra Texture being my favorite.  I don’t really like how he embraced the 80’s sound, but it’s grown on me.  I think on his later albums I tend to prefer the slow tracks to the rockers.

"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney 

14 January 2014
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Expert Textpert said
This one took a while to grow on me, as did some of his later albums.  I really like from All Things Must Pass to Extra Texture , Extra Texture being my favorite.  I don’t really like how he embraced the 80’s sound, but it’s grown on me.  I think on his later albums I tend to prefer the slow tracks to the rockers.

Interesting that ‘Extra Texture ‘ is your favorite. Most fans feel that is his worst album although it seems to get some good reviews now but back in the 70’s it was severely panned by critics. The album is a little slow but has some gems on it.

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14 January 2014
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Inner Light said

Expert Textpert said
This one took a while to grow on me, as did some of his later albums.  I really like from All Things Must Pass to Extra Texture , Extra Texture being my favorite.  I don’t really like how he embraced the 80’s sound, but it’s grown on me.  I think on his later albums I tend to prefer the slow tracks to the rockers.

Interesting that ‘Extra Texture ‘ is your favorite. Most fans feel that is his worst album although it seems to get some good reviews now but back in the 70’s it was severely panned by critics. The album is a little slow but has some gems on it.

It just has an excellent, laid-back, melancholy, soulful mood to it, and some great bass lines and melodies.  My favorites are probably You, The Answer’s at the End, Ooh Baby, World of Stone, Can’t Stop Thinking About You, and Grey Cloudy Lies.

My tastes are usually different than the mainstream–I often like an artist’s least-liked album.

"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney 

14 January 2014
7.56pm
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Pretty much all of the albums from ‘Living In The Material World ‘ to ‘Somewhere In England ‘ didn’t do too much for me, and I probably am more in line with “the mainstream” and rate ‘Extra Texture (Read All About It!)’ as his worst.  You’re not too far out on a limb here though, for I believe that someone else earlier on in this thread rated ‘Gone Troppo ‘ as his favourite, which isn’t much better than ‘Extra Texture ‘ in my opinion, so each to their own I guess…:-)

14 January 2014
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Billy Rhythm said
Pretty much all of the albums from ‘Living In The Material World ‘ to ‘Somewhere In England ‘ didn’t do too much for me, and I probably am more in line with “the mainstream” and rate ‘Extra Texture (Read All About It!)’ as his worst.  You’re not too far out on a limb here though, for I believe that someone else earlier on in this thread rated ‘Gone Troppo ‘ as his favourite, which isn’t much better than ‘Extra Texture ‘ in my opinion, so each to their own I guess…:-)

 

I don’t get what people think is bad about Extra Texture .  However, Gone Troppo is at or near the bottom of my list (it’s either that one or Somewhere in England).

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14 January 2014
10.54pm
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I feel pretty much the same about George’s solo albums as I do Paul’s, there are some very good songs scattered amongst a lot of second-rate material, but George’s ‘Brainwashed‘ album is the first one where I don’t skip any of the tracks and enjoy the entire album from start to finish, I’ve yet to come across a McCartney album where I feel the same way, and I believe that I’ve heard them all…:-)

14 January 2014
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It was me who mentioned finding Gone Troppo a really good album (tho not my favourite) as i find it to be George playing music for his own enjoyment not caring what the current trend was or recording to please the record company with the latest trend (aside from Wake Up My Love, the worst and most dated track on the album). 

Extra Texture is a drag to listen to and i can’t get into Brainwashed as the production makes it all too similar overall, there are some excellent songs but, for me, it’s not a great album.

 

 

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15 January 2014
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meanmistermustard said

It was me who mentioned finding Gone Troppo a really good album (tho not my favourite) as i find it to be George playing music for his own enjoyment not caring what the current trend was or recording to please the record company with the latest trend (aside from Wake Up My Love, the worst and most dated track on the album). 

Extra Texture is a drag to listen to and i can’t get into Brainwashed as the production makes it all too similar overall, there are some excellent songs but, for me, it’s not a great album.

 

 

 

I’ve never been one who’s too keen on reviews and prefer to judge things for myself, but I pretty much agree with this ‘Rolling Stone’ review  http://www.rollingstone.com/mu…..ppo9830217  for ‘Gone Troppo ‘, the word “tolerable” sticks out for me and that’s why I’d rate it higher than ‘Extra Texture (Read All About It)’ which I find unlistenable, it’s just got a horrible sound to it from the outset and not up to the standard I’d expect from a George Harrison record.  It’s interesting that the reviewer singles out the “jaunty” ‘Wake Up My Love’ to be the best showcase of George’s songwriting here contrary to your feeling of it being the “worst”, different strokes for different folks…:-)

15 January 2014
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Billy Rhythm said

meanmistermustard said

It was me who mentioned finding Gone Troppo a really good album (tho not my favourite) as i find it to be George playing music for his own enjoyment not caring what the current trend was or recording to please the record company with the latest trend (aside from Wake Up My Love, the worst and most dated track on the album). 

Extra Texture is a drag to listen to and i can’t get into Brainwashed as the production makes it all too similar overall, there are some excellent songs but, for me, it’s not a great album.

 

 

 

I’ve never been one who’s too keen on reviews and prefer to judge things for myself, but I pretty much agree with this ‘Rolling Stone’ review  http://www.rollingstone.com/mu…..ppo9830217  for ‘Gone Troppo ‘, the word “tolerable” sticks out for me and that’s why I’d rate it higher than ‘Extra Texture (Read All About It)’ which I find unlistenable, it’s just got a horrible sound to it from the outset and not up to the standard I’d expect from a George Harrison record.  It’s interesting that the reviewer singles out the “jaunty” ‘Wake Up My Love’ to be the best showcase of George’s songwriting here contrary to your feeling of it being the “worst”, different strokes for different folks…:-)

The intro to Wake Up My Love is horrid and gets my back up immediately, the only time the album nods to the then current music scene. Kick-off with That’s The Way It Goes and i’m happy and content – you’d need to find an extra track from somewhere as 9 isn’t a great number of songs but there must have been something in the vault George could have dusted down. 

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15 January 2014
6.49pm
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Billy Rhythm said
I’d rate it higher than ‘Extra Texture (Read All About It)’ which I find unlistenable, it’s just got a horrible sound to it from the outset and not up to the standard I’d expect from a George Harrison record.  It’s interesting that the reviewer singles out the “jaunty” ‘Wake Up My Love’ to be the best showcase of George’s songwriting here contrary to your feeling of it being the “worst”, different strokes for different folks…:-)

 

 

LOL, We must be from different planets.  Unlistenable, horrible…?  But then you’re probably saying to yourself, “He’s the guy who thinks Yoko is a genius, so that explains it.’

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16 January 2014
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Wait , you think that “Yoko is a genius”?!…:-)

3 February 2014
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I adore this album. Not every song is a winner, and it does sound over produced in some parts, but I think it’s pretty solid. I got this day one and had P2 Vatican Blues stuck in my head for weeks. Marwa Blues is just amazing. I believe the video in the earlier post which Youtube deleted was “Stuck Inside A Cloud” (being the only song that starts with S on this album). I love his version of Run So Far. I think I like this version better than Clapton’s. The title track starts off a little weak, but ends on a wonderful note. Even the filler songs on this album are pretty easy to listen to, IMO.

All in all I agree that it’s one of his best.

5 August 2014
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Was listening to a radio special on the album from 2003 and i realised the problem i have with this – the damn drums are the same for a handful of the songs (the first three were ‘Looking For My Life’, ‘Run So Far’ and ‘ Stuck Inside A Cloud’). Gee’s, someone give Keltner permission to change the beat. George’s vocals and lyrics are great on all the tracks but played together the production and arrangements make it too monotonous for me.

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8 August 2014
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Never really noticed. I have the ability to listen to an entire album but still enjoy each individual track on it’s own merit. So many good ones on this album.

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19 August 2014
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OK, as mentioned, I got this for a quarter a couple of weeks ago and am giving it my second listening now…it’s pretty good! Mostly tuneful, cleanly produced midtempo (occasionally bluesy) poprockers, with George in good voice and well-supported by those familiar gently-weeping guitar parts. Some random thoughts:

– For the most part lyrically, George hasn’t really got a lot to say – much of the usual spiritual searching and longing and ruminations – but occasionally has a few lines and images that stand out. Too bad many of my favourite lines are on the track with some of the most uninteresting chord changes (Pisces Fish), but so what; lyrics are never more than 40% of an album’s greatness anyways (and almost nobody but Dylan ever hit that 40% mark, even)

– A couple of surprising references to Catholicism! Balanced out I guess by the all-out Hinduisms of the title cut.

-…which is a pretty great semi-psychedelic semi-epic construction, by the way. Love the chanting at the end! (And hey, doesn’t that sound remarkably like Ringo’s voice singing that “God god god” part?!)

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GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty. 

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20 August 2014
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I’m quite surprised reading these reviews. I love George,  but I agree not all of his records were as good as, say, All Things Must Pass . Still, when I listen to this album, I feel this album is best experienced in context, meaning remember where George was while he was recording it. Some of the songs are old, some are new, but all together George knew this would be his swan song. Maybe I’ll do a track by track review, as that’s the best way to get all the thoughts for all the tracks…

BRAINWASHED TRACK BY TRACK

Part of a series of track by tracks by me a-hard-days-night-paul-11

1. Any Road – I believe I read somewhere that this is one of the oldest songs on the record,  though I may be confusing this for P2 Vatican Blues. At the very least, the ideas in the song aren’t at all new. If you’ve seen the anthology,  and you paid attention, you’ll note that George plays a snippet of a song called Dehra Dun, or perhaps you’ve heard the unreleased recording. This song feels like a rewrite, and a much better one than that. It also recalls Awaiting On You All for me, at least. George had a way of taking grand concepts and simplifying them in a palatable way. This song is a lot of fun, and it starts the album off in a driving yet not too threatening way. Give me plenty of that guitar…

2. P2 Vatican Blues (Last Saturday Night) – George was a cynic. This was one of the aspects that I loved about him. If he thought something was bullshit, he’d tell you about it.

Best line: Oh, father,  Father-.. 

Stick a little 5 bob in the box, you’ll be alright.a-hard-days-night-george-10

3. Pisces Fish – Robert Christgau is not a George Harrison fan. When All Things Must Pass came out, he was one of the few dissenters to the popular opinion that it is a masterpiece. Yet, on his one sentence review of this album, he wrote: ‘Say this for death: it focuses the mind.’ This song is very personal, and it shows. It makes note of his limited time on the earth, whether or not he realized he was going when he wrote it. The song acts as a sort of analysis of the world around him, and his musings of the future. It’s sad, in a way, but uplifting in another. A favorite.

4. Looking for My Life – It could be argued that George never changed what he argued. This song continues a theme started with What Is Life . In this way, it’s nothing new, but the presentation and beauty of the music makes it anything but old hat.

5. Rising Sun – Plain and simple, I love this song. It’s got mystic sensibilities, yeah, and it’s full bodied production wise, but there’s something here. Something that feels important. 

‘And in the rising sun you can feel your life begin. Universe at play inside your DNA, and you’re a billion years old today.’

6. Marwa Blues – This song is a great example of conveying emotion in music without lyrics. As a guitarist, I feel George is overlooked. At most, he is usually regarded as effective, and at worst, effective. a-hard-days-night-george-10This song shows his playing at its possible finest. A great track.

7. Stuck Inside a Cloud – Sometimes it’s best to work out your problems in music. Sometimes it yields beautiful and meaningful recordings. This one did.

8. Run So Far – It does seem at some point George ran out of music for the album. It might be tempting to think that way, but personally I think it’s him showcasing his perception of how his song should sound. It’s a great track here, and I think it works better for George than it does for Eric.

9. Never Get Over You – A love song. Often overlooked,  usually underestimated,  but nonetheless great. Is it Something ? No, but to all the haters, I’d like to hear you write a better love song.

10. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – This song is just fun. It goes to show Paul wasn’t the only one capable of making feel good music. 

11. Rocking Chair in Hawaii – This album is far from perfect, but I don’t consider All Things Must Pass to be perfect either. Here, the album gets a bit slow, but it’s not the fault of this song, but more due to poor track order. It’s still a fine tune, but for me it acts as a short stop until we get to the title track…

12. Brainwashed – My favorite track on the album. This song does feature George being a bit funny and cynical. Look deeper. There’s a lot more he is saying here. For me,  this is an impassioned plea if I’ve ever heard one. It acts as a warning against people who want to control you, regardless of the intention. This, coupled with his desire for us to be ‘brainwashed’ by God gives this song the urgency and hopelessness that might be a bit off putting to people. I love it, and his prayer with Dhani at the end brings it all to a loving close. 

Judge this album all you want. I just did. However, in the light which this album was assembled, as a last goodbye to the world, I feel it is sucessful. I could only hope to write an album this good. 

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20 August 2014
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The references made by paulramon1962 here to similarities of George’s previous works is probably one of the things that I really appreciate about this album, George explored just about all facets of his lifelong music experience here to share with the world for one last time.  I never made the ‘Dehra Dun’/’Any Road’ connection before but yeah, they do follow the same “road” don’t they.  I always thought that the heavy string arrangement to ‘Rising Sun’ was very reminiscent of ‘Blue Jay Way ‘s as well.  There’s a broad emotional spectrum on display here that ranges from mindless fun to heart wrenching pain, it’s the most intimate glimpse of George Harrison “the man” that we’ll ever know, so eloquently “summed up” by “the man” himself just before he departed this world from us forever…:-)

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21 August 2014
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Excellent review by paulramon1962 regarding ‘Brainwashed‘ George always had some sort of message for us to take with us in each of his songs. That is why he is my favorite. He always laid the cards on the table, didn’t like game playing and told it the way it is in loving but direct way. 

Some other solo songs by him which are my favorites lyrically are: ‘That’s What It Takes’, ‘I Live For You’, ‘Life Itself’, ‘That’s The Way It Goes’, ‘See Yourself’, ‘Just For Today’ and ‘Run Of The Mill ‘. There are many others but just wanted to mention a few which I find excellent with a powerful message we can take with us each day. 

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