Moondance
by: Van Morrison
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Sales Rank: 1056
Sales Rank: 1056
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Music : Moondance |
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Rating: - * The purest and deepest music of the soul ... Van Morrison's 1970 album "Moondance" has always been acclaimed as one of the best albums in the history of rock music. Whilst of itself that distinction means little to me, in the case of "Moondance" there can hardly be a more fitting description for what stands as the most remarkable example of the blending of dense, funky rhythms to pastoral folk music settings. All through "Moondance", Van Morrison's deep mystical sense, inherited from living in the rich, fertile "Emerald Isle", stands strong in a manner that grips a listener forever after a single serious listen. The upfront vocal of the simple, dreamy opener "And It Stoned Me" might be soft in tone, but it sure packs both a punch and the ability to create the most evocative sort of imagery you will find in music history. The title track is one of the greatest moments in the history of music: the soulful rhythm and Morrison's warm, soulful voice combine with a now-fabled theme of the coming of autumn in the British Isles and the backing of powerfully blown flute and saxophone to create a song that is emotionally explosive in its intensity even if it never announces the slightest desire to be. The way in which Van Morrison sings - making the lyrics sound less poetic than they are - only adds to the mystery of an amazing piece of music. "Crazy Love" and "Into the Mystic" have a simple, truly transcendent beauty in which Van's voice can at times seem totally rigid, yet manages to convey the sweetest emotion better than a huge number of bad imitations (some of which, like Joe Cocker, were already active when "Moondance" came out). "Caravan" may lack the intense drumming, but still the wordless chorus is a perfect complement to the verses of praise to radio - out of place, maybe, in 2008, but still impressive historically. "Come Running" returns to the simple, funky beat of the title tune to almost equal effect, whilst the harpsichord and flute turn the underrated penultimate track "Everyone" into an amazing singalong anthem. The gospel-based "Brand New Day" is the most mysterious song here: a tale of redemption that nobody has repeated. With is earthy, mystical lyrics, simple arrangements, and fiery, passionate vocals, "Moondance" created a fusion of folk-rock and soulful vocals that many have been influenced by but none have come near replicating. There is a reason why so many critics rate this as one of the best recordings ever made, and you too will understand for sure if you listen. Rating: - * moondance ... This is a truly great cd. I had the album years ago and it is great to listen to it again. Every song is awesome, and the lyrics and instrumentals are great as are the vocals! Rating: - * ***An Absolute Work of Art*** ... and a collection of tunes to stand up to anything. If you have no Van in your collection-please start here!! Rating:  - * REMASTER AVAILABLE! But ONLY In Japan! Why, Edgar... WHY? ... The good news? 20+ years after their debut on CD, FINALLY, there are full remasters of Moondance, Street Choir and Astral Weeks. The bad news? They're not available domestically from Warner Music Group USA: All three were released in June 2008 by Warner in Japan only, and Amazon is FINALLY getting around to stocking them. The catalog numbers for the three Japan Warner remasters are WPCR-75419, -20 and -21, which streeted in Japan on 6/25/08. Be sure that you use the links I have provided above, as Warner Japan has previously released non-remastered versions of all three titles, and you don't want to make an expensive mistake. These classic albums, which we have all waited so long to be brought properly into the digital world, now, unfortunately, join fellow Warner artists such as Little Feat, The Doobie Brothers, Neil Young, Ry Cooder, Tower Of Power, Cold Blood and several others, whose remastered catalogs are only available off-shore. Pathetic. The responsibility for this is ultimately Edgar Bronfman, Jr., the CEO of WMG USA. Instead of focusing on WMG's core music catalog, he's busy extolling the virtues of consumer-oppressive DRM, over-paying P-Diddy tens of millions of dollars, and this week, revealed as losing another $30 million of WMG funds in promoter Joe Meli's mad scheme to charge $15,000 per person to attend a swank, exclusive, five-act concert series in the Hamptons. These are only a few of many excesses this guy has perpetrated at WMG, presiding over a spectacular loss of investor equity since the 2005 WMG IPO, while he and his investors have lined their own pockets. This year, Universal is staging a 28-title Van Morrison catalog re-release, all remastered with bonus tracks. You'd think SOMEBODY at WMG would be smart enough to pilot-fish that momentum with these three seminal titles. At the very least, how hard can it be to obtain the existing, completed remasters from a Japan subsidiary and make them available in the U.S.? All of this is no surprise to WMG, or ex-WEA, insiders. Internally, Warner policy was always that the majority of consumers were going purchase popular catalog titles anyway, so why waste profits to remaster them? WEA sales employees were told this directly by Warner management as far back as the early 90's, and Bronfman's regime simply status-quo'd that odious philosophy. This is what happens when bean-counters run record companies. But, I guess Edgar & Co, too preoccupied with moguling the mess they've made of a once-great record company, can't see the opportunity: As of this writing, no WMG act has any major position on the charts, and artists, alienated by WMG's all-finance-dominated mentality, are departing for pastures where music still has some modicum of corporate consideration. What a waste. WMG could borrow a page from Sony, who established a successful business model out of sonically-upgrading their catalog over a decade ago. The only major Columbia Records artist that comes to mind, whose catalog hasn't been remastered, is Springsteen... and you have to believe that's not by Sony's choice. Bottom line, Edgar? If you don't believe there's no positive revenue to be generated by offering a better product, then you've no business being in that business. Rating: - * One of Van's best ... If you haven't heard this for a while, listen to it again. This is Van in his real magic time--a period of great songs, great arrangements, and fine voice. |
