Polyphonic Press - Classic Album Reviews

"American Beauty" is the fifth studio album by the Grateful Dead, released in 1970. It is widely regarded as one of their most influential and enduring works. The album is a fusion of folk, rock, and country influences, characterized by tight harmonies and a more acoustic sound compared to some of their earlier, more psychedelic work. Listen to the album: ⁠ https://open.spotify.com/album/7...

"Destroyer" is the fourth studio album released by the American rock band KISS. It was initially released on March 15, 1976. The album is known for its mix of hard rock and glam rock, and it marked a significant point in KISS's career, helping to solidify their image and popularity. The album features some of KISS's most iconic songs, including "Detroit Rock City," "Sho...

"Led Zeppelin II" is a monumental rock album that emerged in 1969, showcasing the explosive musical prowess of the legendary British band Led Zeppelin. This iconic record pushed the boundaries of rock 'n' roll, blending blues, hard rock, and a touch of psychedelia to create a sound that was nothing short of revolutionary. Listen to the album: https://open.spotify.com/album/70lQYZty...

"All Things Must Pass" is the third studio album by English musician George Harrison, released in 1970. It is widely regarded as Harrison's magnum opus and a significant departure from his earlier work as a member of The Beatles. The album was released shortly after the band's breakup, and it showcases Harrison's songwriting prowess and spiritual exploration. Listen to the albu...

"Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" by Simon & Garfunkel is a classic folk rock album that continues to resonate with music lovers. Released in 1966, this influential masterpiece features timeless hits such as "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." Simon & Garfunkel's poetic lyrics, captivating harmonies, and acoustic...

The third studio album by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman, Sail Away released in 1972. The album is known for its satirical and ironic lyrics that explore themes of American culture, racism, and imperialism, set against a backdrop of lush orchestration and Newman's distinctive piano playing. The title track, "Sail Away," is a tongue-in-cheek anthem inviting people from around t...

Bob Dylan's second album, The Freewheeling Bob Dylan is where Dylan's songwriting started to flourish. At just the age of twenty one, he was writing songs that were thought-provoking, unusual, and humourous. With songs like Blowin' In The Wind, Girl From The North Country, and Don't Think Twice It's All Right coming right out of the gate, it's not wonder this album is consi...

The debut album by The Police, Outlandos d'Amour may not have their signature sound that they later developed. It does however give a glimpse into the band as they were beginning. With short punchy songs, it's easy to forget that Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers are accomplished musicians. This is something in fact they tried to hide so they would appear more "punk". This...

Fats Domino's album This Is Fats is a glimpse into the beginnings of Rock N Roll. Although a lot of the songs have a similar feel to them, they are distinctly his. His signature piano playing shines through on this collection of early Rock & Roll staples. Being one of the pioneers and leaders of a musical movement, Fats Domino's music deserves to be celebrated and recognized for what i...

Scottish singer/songwriter Finley Quaye's debut album Maverick A Strike has a wide range of genres. Everything from psychedelia, to soul, R&B, and reggae. This eclectic variety can be polarizing. It can take the listener a while to catch on to the flow of the album, but by the time you get the final track, you're fully engaged. Listen to the album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6...

Miriam Makeba's debut album was unfortunately not a success when it was first released. With most songs sung in her native language of Xhosa, western audiences were lukewarm on the singer. However, her follow-up album was a bigger success and thankfully listeners were more open and went back to rediscover this masterpiece full of playful melodies, and interesting instrumentation. Listen to the...

Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is exactly what it sounds like. A collection of country and western songs that capture the spirit and cinematic quality of the genre. Songs about murder, gunfighting and just generally being an outlaw pack this album. After listening to it from top to bottom, you feel like you’ve seen a movie or read a book. Although this isn’t a concept album, it still has a run...

"461 Ocean Boulevard is Eric Clapton's second studio solo album, arriving after his side project of Derek and the Dominos and a long struggle with heroin addiction. Although there are some new reggae influences, the album doesn't sound all that different from the rock, pop, blues, country, and R&B amalgam of Eric Clapton. However, 461 Ocean Boulevard is a tighter, more focused outi...

"On his third album, Jackson Browne returned to the themes of his debut record (love, loss, identity, apocalypse) and, amazingly, delved even deeper into them. "For a Dancer," a meditation on death like the first album's "Song for Adam," is a more eloquent eulogy; "Farther On" extends the "moving on" point of "Looking Into You"; "Before the Delug...

"The Allman Brothers came first, but Lynyrd Skynyrd epitomized Southern rock. The Allmans were exceptionally gifted musicians, as much bluesmen as rockers. Skynyrd was nothing but rockers, and they were Southern rockers to the bone. This didn't just mean that they were rednecks, but that they brought it all together -- the blues, country, garage rock, Southern poetry -- in a way that sound...

"Dr. John's Gumbo bridged the gap between post-hippie rock and early rock & roll, blues, and R&B, offering a selection of classic New Orleans R&B, including "Tipitina" and "Junko Partner," updated with a gritty, funky beat. There aren't as many psychedelic flourishes as there were on his first two albums, but the ones that are present enhance his sweeping vi...

"The Band's first album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to come out of nowhere, with its ramshackle musical blend and songs of rural tragedy. The Band, the group's second album, was a more deliberate and even more accomplished effort, partially because the players had become a more cohesive unit, and partially because guitarist Robbie Robertson had taken over the songwriting, writing or c...

"In 1974, Richard Thompson and the former Linda Peters released their first album together, and I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight was nothing short of a masterpiece, the starkly beautiful refinement of the promise of Thompson's solo debut, Henry the Human Fly. In Linda Thompson, Richard found a superb collaborator and a world-class vocalist; Linda possessed a voice as clear and rich...

"If Lovey captured Evan Dando as he found his signature blend of punk-pop, jangle pop, and folk-rock, It's a Shame About Ray is where he perfected that style. Breezing by in under half an hour, the album is a simple collection of sunny melodies and hooks, delivered with typical nonchalance by Dando. None of the songs are about anything major, nor do they have astonishingly original melodie...

"Fiona Apple demonstrates considerable talent on her debut album, Tidal, but it is unformed, unfocused talent. Her voice is surprisingly rich and supple for a teenager, and her jazzy, sophisticated piano playing also belies her age. Given the right material, such talents could have flourished, but she has concentrated on her own compositions, which are nowhere near as impressive as her musicia...

In this episode we review Ramones' self-titled debut album. The album contains the classics Blitzkrieg Bop, 53rd & 3rd, and Judy Is A Punk. What did you think of this album? Send us a text! Support the show Website Contact Join the Polyphonic Press Community: Love collecting classic vinyl and want to talk about? Reach out and let us know! Website | Join the community on Patreon | Contact

"Alice Cooper's third album, Love It to Death, can be pinpointed as the release when everything began to come together for the band. Their first couple of albums (Pretties for You and Easy Action) were both largely psychedelic/acid rock affairs and bore little comparison to the band's eventual rip-roaring, teenage-anthem direction. The main reason for the quintet's change was that...

"It’s not quite right to say that the Go-Go’s' 1981 debut, Beauty and the Beat, is where new wave caught hold in the U.S., but it’s not quite wrong, either. Prior to this, there had certainly been new wave hits -- Blondie had been reaching the Top Ten for two years running -- but the Go-Go’s ushered in the era of big, bright stylish pop, spending six weeks at the top of the U.S. charts and...

"Fronted by the husband-and-wife team of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, the Arcade Fire's emotional debut -- rendered even more poignant by the dedications to recently departed family members contained in its liner notes -- is brave, empowering, and dusted with something that many of the indie rock genre's more contrived acts desperately lack: an element of real danger. Funeral's...

"Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhyth...