I loved this album before I heard a note. The cover just struck me. Four ordinary guys sitting on a roof; something I had done as a kid in a small Midwestern town in the middle of nowhere. It was something to identify with. This is everything I want out of an album. Humor, sincerity, confusion/alienation, sadness, and soul. It effortlessly melds balls out rock with beautiful, slow ballads. And I think what attracted me most to this album is what makes it better after every listen, the balance only these four could have created. The misfits that fit together perfectly. Bob’s thrashing guitar paired with Tommy’s frantic bass are offset by Paul’s incredible melody and rhythm and Chris’ relentless beat.
I Will Dare is the perfect pop-rock song. It’s fucking catchy. The bouncy guitar and bass fit just right with Paul’s lyrics (How smart are you? How dumb am I? Don’t count any of my advice...Ain’t lost yet, so I gotta be a winner. Fingernails and a cigarette’s a lousy dinner).
Favorite Thing is rockin’ and that guitar riff at the beginning is classic. Paul’s lyrics always seem to be a step ahead in these songs. Not just singing and writing about his problems, but thinking beyond that (I think big once in a while). We’re Comin’ Out is pure energy and urgency. The breakdown in the song is a standout on the album for me…
One more chance to get it all wrong,
One more time to do it all wrong,
One more night to get it half right,
One more, one more warning sign
We’re comin’ out
The self-deprecating humor is what ties this album together. Gary’s Got a Boner and Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out. I think with them making music being beyond their years, these tracks are needed to remind you that they were barely out of their teens (and Tommy still wasn’t).
Then comes Androgynous. That piano, Paul’s voice and those LYRICS. The overall tone of feeling lost and the pressures put on us. And at the end of such a heartfelt song, he whispers "Jefferson’s cock" and hits a few goofy notes on the piano just in time to save it from being too much. There’s one cover, a great cover. KISS’ Black Diamond. Incredible vocal performance by Paul. I love everything about this cover, actually.
Unsatisfied. Trying to describe the brilliance of this song in words is about as useful as a designated peeing area in a pool, but I'll try anyway. You just know it's going to be special from the opening guitar notes leading up to "JUMP!" I never knew three minutes and fifty-nine seconds could feel so liberating. Look me in the eye, and tell me that I'm satisfied. Were you satisfied?
Seen Your Video is all instrumental for the first two and a half minutes, until Paul says "all day, all night, all music video" and Tommy laughs. It’s the perfect stance to the changing trend to crap-tastic music and even crappier music videos.
Sixteen Blue is so beautiful and bittersweet. A song about being completely unsure, and feeling out of place (Tell your pa you’ve got a date, but you’re lying, now you’re lying on your back). And the guitar solo is untouchable. I still get goosebumps when I hear it. Then there’s Answering Machine. What do you say about that song? That raw vocal delivery, the oddly tuned guitar. A closing track that ties it all together. Out with a bang.
I love this album completely.
And yes, they knew "Let It Be" was also the title of The Beatles' album… rock don’t give a shit, you know...
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