@Bukowski @Tis generally regarded as such, but I feel Moondance beats it. Too many songs on AW sound similar. Beside You is a dirge, and Cypress Avenue although a fine tune only really comes alive on the ITLTSN live set.
@ian38018 I could not disagree more strongly. 'Astral Weeks' is a transcendental and spiritually moving experience; 'Moondance' is a POP! album by comparison.
@Bukowski There are pop elements to Moondnace, but I think it is a collection of 10 perfectly crafted compositions covering rock, blues, soul, folk, country, gospel and even baroque. It was Van's calling card, telling the world, "I can do anything"
@ian38018@Bukowski Very strong points put across by both of you. Personally, I think that the albums are so different to each other and difficult to compare. They are both, IMO superb albums. "Moondance" is a complete album for the range of genres used successfully ( artistically & commercially) "Astral weeks" ( my lifelong favourite LP) is also complete but in this case , thematically. It is a spiritual journey & prospers by retaining its unwavering aesthetic mood throughout the work.
@ian38018 I disagree, I think that 'Astral Weeks' is his calling card; that is his experimentally ethereal, sonically spiritual album. It is always a challenge.
@decarter 'Astral Weeks' for me is like 'Bitches Brew'; it is always a challenge. An experimentally ethereal, sonically spiritual album. I've been listening to it since 1985 and it still continually amazes me. Top 10 Album of All Time for me.
11 Comments (since 12 Apr 2014)
Bukowski
One of the (Top Ten) greatest albums ever made.
teen
Van is the man!!!
ian38018
@Bukowski @Tis generally regarded as such, but I feel Moondance beats it. Too many songs on AW sound similar. Beside You is a dirge, and Cypress Avenue although a fine tune only really comes alive on the ITLTSN live set.
Bukowski
@ian38018 I could not disagree more strongly. 'Astral Weeks' is a transcendental and spiritually moving experience; 'Moondance' is a POP! album by comparison.
BertrandRustles
@ian38018 @Bukowski *keeps quiet as prefers Hard Nose The Highway to either of those*
ian38018
@Bukowski There are pop elements to Moondnace, but I think it is a collection of 10 perfectly crafted compositions covering rock, blues, soul, folk, country, gospel and even baroque. It was Van's calling card, telling the world, "I can do anything"
Bukowski
@ian38018 Agreed.
debutch
@ian38018 @Bukowski Very strong points put across by both of you. Personally, I think that the albums are so different to each other and difficult to compare. They are both, IMO superb albums. "Moondance" is a complete album for the range of genres used successfully ( artistically & commercially) "Astral weeks" ( my lifelong favourite LP) is also complete but in this case , thematically. It is a spiritual journey & prospers by retaining its unwavering aesthetic mood throughout the work.
debutch
@BertrandRustles ...oh, and " Hard nose the highway" is a criminally underrated album. Well noted , Sir!
Bukowski
@ian38018 I disagree, I think that 'Astral Weeks' is his calling card; that is his experimentally ethereal, sonically spiritual album. It is always a challenge.
Bukowski
@decarter 'Astral Weeks' for me is like 'Bitches Brew'; it is always a challenge. An experimentally ethereal, sonically spiritual album. I've been listening to it since 1985 and it still continually amazes me. Top 10 Album of All Time for me.