#and on top of all that its just objectively one of the best-produced albums I've ever heard

[shapoopy178]

Bro

Demi Lovato Revamped

I'm absolutely fucking floored

[comradeharrison]

Hi! I've been looking to get into George's solo career for some time and you seem to be very familiar with it... so what would you recommend to start with?

Hello! I am somewhat familiar. I binge listened back when I got into george in 2018 and haven't really listened to it cover to cover since so some of it has gone a bit blurry for me. Anyway, if you really don't want to listen serially (which I recommend) and want to check the best stuff out first -

Brainwashed: Definitely his best album, a great album, one of my top albums of all time. I am a bit partial to Jeff Lynne's production so I might be a bit biased, but seriously, this album has everything. Even objectively it is such a good album even if you aren't that fond of George. And if you are, this album has sarcastic sassy george, cheerfully philosophical george, reflective george, pretentious george, spiritual george, Indian classical music enthusiast george, just some really fucking good lyrics and a also straightforward simplicity telling it like it is that seems so typical of george to me. It's ironic because it was put together posthumously but maybe that is part of it's charm, it was put together with a lot of love by people who really knew him. I could talk about this for hours anyway Brainwashed is supreme and definitely the best place to start.

Gone Troppo: This has been growing on me recently, this is such a funky and whimsical little album. The producers take it song to song and really bring out the mood in each one. There's a couple of serious songs but other than that it is George being zany and goofy and sometimes a bit sassy and but all in good fun. It's just one of those cheery albums guaranteed to put you in a good mood. Highly recommend if you are having a kinda bluesy day.

Self-titled: I think the production could have been a tiny little bit less boring maybe because some of the songs could have done with a little more zing, but other than that it's really good. It's very serious lyrically, very philosophical and self-reflective and you can kind of sense george's personality settling in as he makes peace with how his life has turned out. A lot of people say it's his best album and I read a review of it once that said it was george's personality in an album, which I don't entirely agree with but it is definitely how George saw himself and wanted to be seen as. Anyway this is just the album to sit with your afternoon tea, preferably surrounded by lots of plants, and really listen to and let george's voice wash over you and tell you everything is going to be okay

Cloud Nine: Very groovy! It does have the typical 80s pop-rock sound and a lot of people aren't into that and if you aren't you won't like it. I don't mind it and Jeff Lynne knows what he is doing so it doesn't wash out like a lot 80s rock usually does. Goes really strong on the electric guitar, blues influences very much on the surface. Lyrically George doesn't try too hard here imo, most of it is pretty generic love songs, but Wreck of the Hesperus and Breath away from heaven are so good in terms of writing. Even if you decide to give the rest of the album a skip listen to these two.

Somewhere in England: The production is a bit eh - too flowery, lots of instrumental embellishments and unnecessary guitar frills for me, ruins the mood of the album. (I don't get it because george worked with Ray Cooper again on gone troppo and he did a great job there) It's such a shame because the writing is so good, lyrically it's his best work imo. You can hear the Dylan influence - great storytelling and imagery, has its share of cryptic whatever the fuck does this mean songs, social commentary songs with convoluted metaphors, protest songs. Everything you would expect from a typical singer-songwriter album from the 70s it's there.

Thirty Three and 1/3: Ik I was shitting on it yesterday and I feel bad now because it isn't that bad really, I would give it a solid 4/5. Tom Scott just doesn't have a good sense of what goes where and when to give and when to hold back so you have some annoying moments at times like the annoying xylophone sound in its what you value and also Learning how to love you which will put you to sleep but if you get past that the rest of it is very fun and engaging. It's a bit eh compared to others but you can see he's settling into himself in terms of style and getting surer of his writing and what he is going to say. Has all your typical george album goodies, tribute song, protest song, the I am a millionaire but materialism is a prison song, the funny song, the horny song. Its good but doesn't stand out from the others for me.

I'm not fan of his early 70s work usually. The Indian classical influence is too heavy handed and the spirituality feels too corny and self-conscious for my taste. Doesn't help that a lot of it is self produced and i don't think he does a very good job of it, at times actually get a bit grating to listen to. Still, it's George, I like his voice, and a lot was happening in his life at that time so its interesting on that lens. The writing on Extra Texture is pretty good, it's angsty and honest and confessional in a way you won't find after that because he gets more calmer and preachy. (I like preachy george but the quarter life crisis George is fun too). Living in a material world is okay, the evermore to atmp's folklore if you will. Dark Horse isn't as good as his other works but that doesn't mean it's bad, I think it gets a lot of unfair criticism from critics and I will defend it to death.

All things must pass: not a fan for the same reasons I don't like the early 70s albums but can't really dislike it either, it is the debut after all. Yeah it's a bit corny and cringe lyrically compared to his later work but it does have some really good songs, it helps that Phil Spector is a good producer so sonically/musically whatever it works. It's babie george just learning to walk and just discovering himself artistically so definitely worth a listen.

Also try the Travelling Wilburys volumes! it's dad music but its good dad music, if you liked Goodbye England and self titled you should definitely check it out.