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Customer Rating:      Summary: A Magical Journey Comment: This is the only Album that I have owned in all three formats because from the time I placed it on the turntable in 1972 it took me to another place. A place of mystery, warriors and legend.
I have often felt that this album would have made a fantastic soundtrack.
The harmonies and the blend of guitar work are exceptional.
Dont hesitate in buying this Album there isnt a bad track on it.
Pure quality.
Pour yourself a big drink put your feet up and be taken back by a band in their prime and enjoy the artistry that is Argus
Customer Rating:      Summary: One of the classic rock albums. Comment: I bought this album after reading many good reviews about it. Many people have also told me that it is one of the defining albums of classic rock and helped to influence many bands, especially Thin Lizzy who expanded on the sound Wishbone Ash created. Anyway, time for a track run though:
Time Was - The longest song (9:42) opens the album with some nice clean guitar and peaceful vocal harmonies. Then the song begins to pick up with the introduction of some drums and bass guitar. It still makes you feel at peace though and is a very ncie song. It also contains a nice guitar solo. 7/10
Sometime World - This song begins with some nice vocals and some really tuneful acoustic guitar. Not long into the song, the classic Wishbone Ash guitar sound is aired and makes the song so much more 'full' and classic sounding. 7/10
Blowin' Free - This is an up-beat song that features yet more fantastic vocals and guitar work from Andy Powell and Ted Turner. The middle break down part with the guitar solo is absolutely wodnerful. 8/10
The King Will Come - This song has possibly one of the best guitar intros and riffs in any rock song. It's played so wonderfully and drenched in effects it really sounds different to anything else. This I think is the best song on the album and just a classic tune overall. 9/10
Leaf and Stream - This song is the shortest song on the album (4:06) and presents a nice, peaceful song with some lovely dual guitar parts and tuneful bass. It just flows nicely like a leaf floating down a stream, hence what the title suggests. 7/10
Warrior - This opens with some slightly distored guitar when some powerful drumming and fluid solo kick in. This is one of the more rocky tracks on the album. Even though it often desends into the proggy break downs with awesome guitar lines. 7/10
Throw Down the Sword - This song builds up from a very quiet sounding riff that then develops into a fantastic guitar solo and some great harmonised vocals. Along with 'The King Will Come' this is one of the best tracks on the album. It's just beautiful. 9/10
Overall, this is great album. On their own however, some of the songs are not so great, but when played as part of the album. They are all classics.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Rocked me through my teenage years - still doing it in my forties! Comment: Sometime world had passed me by. Finding Blowin' Free on a recent compilation album got me flicking through Amazon. Now I have Argus on CD, not scratchy vinyl. It still works. Overblown guitar pyrotechnics? Yeah, but why not? I think this album is probably their finest hour; it's unfortunate that they peaked so soon, though I still remember subsequent albums with joy. And they were the first professional band I ever saw live (October '77, supported by The Motors). This is a good quality album, a good example of their craft.
A down note; why do record companies insist on sticking extra tracks on the end of re-issued (if that's the right term) albums? I'm not really interested in space fillers. Outtakes, rough demos - they give an insight into the process of honing the songs, but here they've chosen to add a completely separate release.
There is, somewhere, a CD of the original Argus; I would have bought that if I could. But let's not quibble; buy this, and enjoy a wonderful '70's rock band at its finest
Customer Rating:      Summary: magical moment in timeless Comment: This album just doesnt age, a real joy and one of the real worthy classics of all time, play it again guys.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Like it, but can't quite love it Comment: This album grows with each spin, but my basic problem with it is that it lacks energy, and I have hit a plateau. Rock by name, but not really by nature.
The strength of the album - the dual vocal harmonies - remind me heavily in parts (particularly Blowin' Free) of Crosby Stills and Nash. There is of course nothing wrong with that, but they don't set my pulse racing. The innocence of the album is much of it's charm, and certainly captures the atmosphere of its time. However, like 1940s cartoons and Music Hall, it feels a little twee in 2009.
Unavoidable (obviously for an early-seventies guitar album) is the sort of six string twiddling that the Sex Pistols were invented to abolish. If that's not your bag, you should be a little cautious - especially of the bonus tracks.
The major obstacle, though, is that these guitars are mixed at 5 on the Rock scale of 11, as if the producer (Remixer?) wanted to apologise for them. Combined with the mostly pedestrian tempo, this makes me want to give most of the songs a little kick.
Blowin Free aside, this isn't an album which would keep me awake on a long car journey.
Melodically, there is little to criticise, the vocal layers take a hold of you immediately and grow on you like a beard on a tramp. Every tune has a great hook. However, I cannot imagine Wishbone Ash touring with Deep Purple in 1970 with guitars and tempos this tame, and not being blown mercilessly off the stage every night.
I strongly suspect that the real magic of this album lies in the memories of people who were there at the time. It conjures up a picture of hairy youths laughing on the grass in the park on a summers day. Unfortunately I was 10 years too late, and only bits of this strike a strong chord with me. Sorry......
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