Astral Weeks Review: A Mystical, Meandering Masterpiece
9.5/10 — Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (1968)
Pros
- Transcendent, hypnotic songs
- Jazz-inflected arrangements
- Morrison's soulful singing
Cons
- Slow and meandering
- Impressionistic lyrics
Recorded in just a few days with jazz session players, Astral Weeks has a loose, improvisatory feel. It sold poorly at first but has become one of the most revered albums of the era.
What works
The acoustic bass, flute, vibraphone and strings create a hypnotic backdrop for Morrison’s stream-of-consciousness poetry. ‘Astral Weeks’, ‘Sweet Thing’ and ‘Madame George’ are transcendent, with a feeling of open-ended beauty.
Where it falters
It’s slow, meandering and rewards patience more than quick listening, and the lyrics are impressionistic.
Verdict
A strange, beautiful record that rewards a quiet, attentive listen.
