The Band Review: Americana's Founding Document
9.5/10 — The Band - The Band (1969)
Pros
- Three great vocalists
- 'Up on Cripple Creek'
- Warm, organic sound
Cons
- Backward-looking
- Less immediate
The Band, known as the brown album, was recorded in a house in the Hollywood Hills that the group had converted into a studio. It’s full of songs about the American past.
What works
‘The Weight’ is on their previous album, but here ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’, ‘Up on Cripple Creek’ and ‘Rag Mama Rag’ are brilliant. The musicianship is warm and unshowy, and the three vocalists, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko, are wonderfully expressive.
Where it falters
Its nostalgic subject matter and sepia sound can feel backward-looking, and it is less immediate than Music from Big Pink.
Verdict
A rich, soulful landmark of roots rock.
