100. Bachman-Turner Overdrive II- Bachman-Turner Overdrive
My review.
Like I thought about the band, I see this album as pretty lightweight. It's solid, but very unspectacular imo. I did not dislike it, but I have no desire to play it again.
Blown - the racecar sound effects immediately threw me off a bit, and the vocals didn't help much. Not bad (i like the light guitar riffs) but not something I need to revisit. Not that Mick Jagger is a great vocalist, but I'm not hearing him, like tim mentioned. I find the vocals rather weak.
Welcome Home - A semi-calypso throw away song (it was better done by Harry Nilsson). I was not impressed with the guitar solo, that seemed like soul-less wankery to me.
Stonegates - my favorite song so far, but still filler. It almost breaks-through half-way through the song turning into a Southern Rock style romp, but doesn't quite get there. I don't want to repeat myself but this music is just soul-less imo - its technically proficient, but just there. The vocals are much better on this song.
Let It Ride - received a lot of air-play so I was familiar with this song, and can easily call it the best song on the album. The lead vocals are spot on (with the right mix of menace), the riff is catchy, some great harmonies on the chorus, and an overall rockin' feel. This is the one song, I could find myself turning back to some day.
Give It Time - This song has no melody at all (sounds like a washing machine) and the vocals are trying too hard. Decent guitar riff makes it listenable, but there's so much great music out there, "listenable" isn't enough to make me play it again down the road.
Tramp - The sound is very muffled on this song - could have been engineered/mixed better. Completely forgettable generic rock.
I Don't Have to Hide - loved the opening guitar riff, but it quickly went off the rails with some terrible vocals and no melody. It's a shame because the riff throughout the song is really quite good and is wasted here.
Takin' Care of Business - this song is a classic and a lot of fun, but it's also kind of silly. It does have a killer riff and some nice honky tonk piano - but the lyrics are just so bland and the "message" so lame. Still it's a very good song that I would turn up when it comes on the radio.
I surely get music is subjective, and "time and place" (maybe if I listened when I was younger) play a big role - but this album wouldn't make my top 300, if I was running this. I'm not of course, and tim is welcome to his opinions. I'm glad it's opening me up to some music I am unfamiliar with though. This is surely the first time I've ever listened to a BTO album cover to cover.