Van Morrison - What's Wrong With This Picture ?

Posted by: u5227470736789524 on 01 February 2004

Don't recall any comments on this album (I could have missed them though).

It is growing on me quickly and favorites are "Evening In June", "Meaning Of Lonliness" and "Goldfish Bowl".

I often times have found Van too self-indulgent but thid disc seems less so.

My personal faves of VM are his collaborations with John Lee H on "Too Long In Exile", though the remainder of that album is a good example to me of his self-indulgence, excepting parts of the jazzy-instrumental last cut.

Any thoughts/comments on the new disc or VM in general.

Good listenin'

Jeff A

Posted on: 01 February 2004 by Paul Ranson

The new one seems very Mose Allison without actually having him involved. Which I suppose is kudos to Mose...

Do you have 'Tell me Something?'

Paul

Posted on: 01 February 2004 by Dave Hartley

Jeff,
I've a copy of "What wrong with this picture" and have not found it easy to get into.

2 weeks ago I bought a copy of " Irish heartbeat" This is wonderful music and I could tell this after the 1st ten words of the 1st track..This is Van at his best.

I will keep listening to his latest and it will grow on me.

I/ve been listening a lot to "Into the music"
with an intinctive attraction to track 5 "Rolling Hills"

Have you tried " the Skiffle Sessions"
another wonderful album, it a live album from Belfast, listen to track 2 and you are there in the audience, just prior to Van starting to sing.

Good Listening

dave

Posted on: 01 February 2004 by u5227470736789524

Thanks for the recommendations, I will look into finding those mentioned.

Jeff A

Posted on: 03 February 2004 by Jim Ashton

Man into Van!

I picked up 'Picture' 2/h in Groovy the other day pretty much on a whim - I'd been wondering if the move to Blue Note would signal some sort of change in direction (or whatever).

As it happens it was my first Copy-Controlled CD and the CDX did a wobble at the 10 sec point on each track (though it did play it all the way through). Once I could listen to a CDR copy (!) made via the laptop I found it instantly likeable in a very obvious singalong kind of way - but also very definitely Van in familiar territory. The 'you got into it too quickly so it will pall soon' bell is ringing loud and clear.

I'm a fan from way back and reckon most if not all of the first 11 or so Warners albums - culminating in 'Into The Music' - are indispensible. I also have a much higher regard for stuff like 'Hard Nose The Highway' than some people (probably the critics).

After that I lost the faith (ie just about when the Man himself went all mystic) but have dipped and returned at times since eg 'Poetic Champions' and 'Too Long In Exile' (of which the latter in particular is a ripper).

I'm not sure what Jeff means about self-indulgence. The VM stuff I don't personally like dates from albums like 'Avalon Sunset' and 'Enlightenment' when his glorious singing voice was dispensed with in favour of almost a talking style. When I heard those I truly thought he'd had it.

Anyway - does anyone have a comment on 'Down The Road' which I haven't heard but immediately predates 'Picture' I believe.

'Let the whinin' boy know if you dunno how to do it yourself'
Jim