The fifth studio album by The Doors is kickstarted by a fantastic song, “Roadhouse blues”. It may be the song that turned me on The Doors in the first place. I love its sweaty sexiness.
But one great song doesn’t make up my mind of a whole album. My ratings are on the complete album, mind you. As I spin this LP in preparation for my top list of the year of 1970, I consider it as a whole. What is it that draws me towards The Doors?
What is this that stands before me?
Figure in black which points at me
Turn ‘round quick and start to run
Find out I’m the chosen one.
Oh, no!
Big black shape with eyes of fire
Telling people their desire
Satan’s sitting there, he’s smiling
Watches those flames get higher and higher
Oh, no, no, please, God, help me!
Is this the end, my friend?
Satan’s coming ‘round the bend
People running ‘cause they’re scared
The people better go and beware
No, no, please, no!
Was Robert Jordan, the author of the massive fantasy epos “The Wheel of Time”, a Black Sabbath fan? Incredibly, the whole 15 books saga is described more or less in those three verses above. Jordan used a few more words though.
This is such a diverse album with a range of different styles, yet it feels very cohesive. It is the strangest thing. Cohesion via diversity? It all connects in a beautiful way. All the songs feel like they belong. Almost all anyway…
Kate Bush is one of the most impressive artists out there. Her voice is her most magnificent instrument, there is talk about four-octave range which would be very impressive indeed. She may not be able to go all the way with her voice anymore, and yet I love it more and more the older she gets. But singing aside, it’s her personality I really love, or is it maybe her artist persona? To me I see a powerful will with a strong individual self. She’s like a witch, but the good kind. I get the feeling that she will only have it her way, and I admire that. Her story started in the seventies…
